Teacher Academic Training Systems in Greece and Serbia

Main Article Content

Konstantinos T. Kotsis
Branislav M. Randjelovic
Eleftheria Tsiouri
Svetlana Ilibašić

Abstract

This study examines the teacher preparation paradigms of Serbia and Greece, two countries with similar histories and religions but different educational ideologies influenced by their social and cultural backgrounds. The study aims to determine the effect of various settings on teacher preparation, with a particular emphasis on pedagogical approaches and curriculum designs. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study assesses how each system affects student results and teacher effectiveness by combining quantitative data from educational tests like PISA with qualitative views from educators and policymakers. Concerns have been raised regarding the influence of Greece’s reliance on a centralized curriculum on developing critical thinking and practical application abilities in aspiring teachers. On the other hand, Serbia’s adaptable strategy incorporates contemporary teaching approaches, boosting students’ capacity for analysis and practical problem-solving. The report emphasizes the value of stakeholder participation, highlighting Serbia’s successful interactions with parents and educational institutions, which help create a climate conducive to educational change. The study emphasizes the integration of cutting-edge pedagogical approaches and standardized assessments, underscoring the necessity for systemic transformation in teacher training processes to satisfy contemporary educational demands. It also asks for fair resource distribution and sufficient funding to enable enhanced teaching approaches that comply with European standards. Ultimately, our research aims to promote international understanding and cooperation, increase teacher preparation programs, and raise education standards globally.

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How to Cite
Kotsis, K. T., Randjelovic , B. M., Tsiouri, E., & Ilibašić , S. (2025). Teacher Academic Training Systems in Greece and Serbia. EIKI Journal of Effective Teaching Methods, 3(1). https://doi.org/10.59652/jetm.v3i1.311
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Articles
Author Biography

Konstantinos T. Kotsis, University of Ioannina, Greece

Konstantinos T. Kotsis was born in Athens in 1959. He studied Physics at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. In 1985, he was an assistant researcher at the Polytechnic Institute of New York University, Brooklyn Campus. In 1987, he got a PhD in X-ray Physics in the Physics Department at the University of Ioannina, Greece. From September 1981 to September 2000, he served as a Lecturer and Assistant Professor specializing in Solid State Physics and X-ray Diffraction at the Physics department of the University of Ioannina. Since 2000, he has served as a Faculty Member (Assistant Professor and Associate Professor) at the Department of Primary Education at the University of Ioannina. Since 2012, he has been a full Professor specializing in the Didactics of Physics and Teachers Education. He has much experience teaching in many University Departments, such as Physics, Chemistry, Informatics, Biological Applications and Technology, and Primary Education at the University of Ioannina and Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. He has published six books and three monographs. He participated in many conferences in Greece and abroad. His articles have been published in scientific International and Greek journals.       

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