Enhancing Humanities and Social Sciences Teaching: A Successful Journey in Central European Collaboration

The project tackled a key issue: while university lecturers are often leading experts in their fields, they frequently lack formal training in teaching methods. SSHTeaching21+ aimed to bridge this gap by developing tools and resources to support educators in enhancing their teaching practices.

Key outputs included a series of sociological studies based on surveys conducted at the University of Hradec Králové, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, and Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra. These studies provide valuable insights into the changing needs of students and institutions, offering evidence-based recommendations for modernizing teaching in SSH disciplines.

Another notable result was a collective monograph, Teaching Humanities and Social Sciences Interculturally: A Contemporary Central European Perspective, which examines how intercultural approaches can enhance SSH education. Contributions from scholars across history, sociology, psychology, and related fields highlight the importance of curriculum internationalization and strategies for fostering intercultural competence in the classroom.

The project also produced a ten-chapter handbook designed for university lecturers without formal training in didactics. This practical resource introduces flexible teaching methods with a focus on critical thinking, digital skills, and media literacy. An accompanying e-learning platform transforms these insights into interactive tools, offering lesson plans and methodological guides tailored to SSH education.

First Learning Teaching Training Activity in Poznań (November 2022)

The collaboration extended beyond research and resource development. Three Learning Teaching Training Activities (LTTAs) brought together academics and Ph.D. students from the partner institutions in Poznań, Nitra, and Hradec Králové. These events not only provided a platform to test project outputs and exchange feedback but also created opportunities for personal and professional growth. Participants benefited from meeting colleagues with diverse approaches to teaching, which enriched their perspectives and encouraged multidisciplinarity. The interactions during these events helped attendees broaden their professional networks while fostering closer personal connections, strengthening the foundations for future collaboration.

Each institution also organized dissemination activities opened to both physical and online participants to share the project’s outcomes with the wider academic community. These included a roundtable in Poznań, a workshop in Nitra, and an international conference in Hradec Králové, showcasing the project’s achievements and stimulating further discussions on SSH education.

International Conference in Hradec Králové (May, 2024)

The project’s outputs, all freely available at www.uhk.cz/ssteaching21, represent a valuable resource for improving teaching in SSH disciplines. The University of Hradec Králové is grateful to its partners from Poland and Slovakia for their contributions and sees the project as an important step toward enhancing SSH education. In addition to its tangible results, the project strengthened professional relationships and underscored the value of interdisciplinary and international cooperation, creating a strong foundation for future initiatives.