In cooperation with the Education Support Program of Open Society Foundations (ESP/OSF), the Centre for education policy has started the implementation of the project “Advancing teacher professionalism for inclusive, quality and relevant education” (ATEPIE).

Within this project and through regional dialogue and international cooperation, teachers will have an opportunity to exchange experiences and share knowledge.
The project covers Western Balkans region, namely: Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia and Montenegro and Serbia. Due to project’s close connection with the project “International Teacher Leadership”, other countries have been involved as well: Albania, Bulgaria, Kosovo, Moldova, Romania, Turkey, Portugal, United Kingdom, and Spain .

The main goal of the project is to formulate national qualification frameworks for teachers in Western Balkan countries which can act as guidelines for further changes of educational practices and the reform of educational system. Their elaboration entails engagement of decision makers in the field of education, teachers’ educators, researchers and teachers themselves. A special attention shall be given to the voice of parents and pupils, especially those from marginalized and vulnerable groups, in order to assure a truly inclusive and anti-discriminatory approach.

Besides developing national qualification frameworks, the project also strives to empower teachers within the related project “International Teacher Leadership”, provide support to young researchers of South Eastern Europe, as well as to disseminate policy recommendations, proposals and education research results to relevant stakeholders in the region.

Therefore, the project is expected to extensively contribute to the professionalization of teachers in South Eastern Europe, as well as to their continuous professional development.

The expected duration of the project is 21 months - until June 2013.