# University Teaching and Learning in the 21st Century ![teaching](/sites/g/files/omnuum986/files/2025-03/1.png) ### **Co-Chairs:** - [Josh Bookin (Harvard Graduate School of Education)](https://rcc.harvard.edu/people/josh-bookin) - [Manuel Iglesias Soilán (Complutense University of Madrid)](https://rcc.harvard.edu/people/manuel-iglesias-soilan-0) ### STUDY GROUP OVERVIEW Education, by its very nature, is a dynamic process of constant change and adaptation. In the 21st century, this phenomenon is marked by an unprecedented pace, driven by various factors. These include the labor market’s increasing demand for advanced competencies, accelerated progress of technology, the evolution of different pedagogical approaches, the disruptive impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and, most recently, the way artificial intelligence has burst onto the scene. This multifaceted landscape poses challenges that require proactive and reflective responses, enabling us to turn obstacles into opportunities for innovation and continuous improvement. The co-chairs of this Study Group, Josh Bookin and Manuel Iglesias, began collaborating in 2023 when Manuel joined the [Instructional Moves project](https://instructionalmoves.gse.harvard.edu/our-team) at the Harvard Graduate School of Education as a visiting fellow. Together, they explored large-scale challenges and potential strategies to address them. By 2024, **these efforts culminated in the establishment of the** ***University Teaching and Learning in the 21st Century*****Study Group (UTL21).** Formally approved by the Academic Council of RCCHU on November 25, 2024, UTL21 was established to address the evolving needs of higher education in this dynamic era. The Study Group unites members of the RCCHU and Harvard communities, fostering collaboration among experts in educational research and teaching practices from Europe and the Americas. Guided by a shared vision, our research, interventions, and activities are grounded in the following principles: - **Research-based:** Rooted in the teaching and learning research literature, ensuring that every initiative is driven by evidence. - **Custom-designed:** Tailoring programs to align with the specific needs and goals of each institution. - **Cutting-edge:** Incorporating emerging technologies and innovative practices from the education field and beyond. - **Culturally-competent:** Blending universal principles of effective teaching with strategies that resonate within specific cultural contexts. - **Practical:** Equipping instructors and institutions to implement high-quality teaching that meets the needs and expectations of their students. - **Scholarly**: Conducting rigorous research on our programs to guide participating institutions and continuously refine our offerings. - **Leadership-focused**: Empowering faculty members to become leaders in learning for their students and their institutions. ### **CURRENT INITIATIVES** This Study Group’s professional learning opportunities and research initiatives are outlined below and will be regularly updated as new projects are introduced. Currently, our efforts focus on **three key areas** aligned with the goals of this Study Group: **ACTION**, **RESEARCH** and **DISSEMINATION.** ![resize](/sites/g/files/omnuum986/files/2025-03/2-2.png) **1. ACTION: “Elevate your Teaching: Engaging and Inspiring your Students”.** ![ELEVATE](/sites/g/files/omnuum986/files/2025-03/3.png) The “Elevate Your Teaching” (EYT) Initiative is designed as a rigorous, cross-cultural, evidence-based program for teaching excellence in higher education. The main goals of the initiative are: - **To equip** individual professors with cutting-edge knowledge and research-based teaching and learning strategies to help them develop as leaders of learning. - **To facilitate** the creation of teaching and research networks inside an academic community. - **To catalyze** a systemic evolution in university teaching and learning to meet the dynamic needs of the 21st century. EYT facilitators are available to travel internationally to host institutions, offering multi-day, customized programs designed to meet the specific needs of each organization. These in-person sessions are enhanced by a combination of synchronous online offerings (e.g., group workshops, individual coaching), asynchronous resources, and a comprehensive process of educational evaluation. This evaluation identifies institutional needs and tracks program outcomes over the short, medium, and long term, ensuring lasting impact. Topics explored through the EYT Initiative include, but are not limited to, learning sciences, planning, pedagogy and psychoeducational methodologies, generative AI, assessment, scaling great teaching, etc. **If you are interested in partnering with us to offer the EYT Initiative at your university, please contact the Study Group!** Also, feel free to contact us with any other questions you may have. In addition, **if you are interested in participating in** ***Elevate Your Teaching*** **individually**, select events will be held at the Real Colegio Complutense at Harvard University and other facilities of this prestigious institution for small groups of 30–40 participants. **Wouldn't you like to visit us in Boston** **2. RESEARCH: focus on university teaching and learning.** As reflected in the Study Group’s name, a key objective of this international collaboration is to advance the understanding of contemporary university teaching and learning practices. This Study Group serves as a platform **for launching and supporting other research initiatives.** The aim is to share findings with the broader scientific community through avenues such as peer-reviewed articles and academic conferences. These projects focus on interdisciplinary issues, exploring educational processes such as engagement and emotions, among others, while acknowledging that teaching plays a central role in the academic journey of most university members at some point in their careers. In addition, the *Elevate Your Teaching: Engaging and Inspiring Your Students* initiative is complemented by **a dedicated research project designed to assess the overall effectiveness of its teacher training programs,** as well as their individual components (e.g., in-person instruction, synchronous and asynchronous online learning, follow-up coaching). **3. DISSEMINATION: “Elevate your Teaching Forum”.** The *Elevate Your Teaching Forum* is designed as **a recurring event dedicated to sharing and promoting best practices in teaching and learning.** It primarily targets members of the Real Colegio Complutense at Harvard University (RCCHU), affiliated institutions, the Harvard University community, the Complutense University of Madrid, and other collaborators of the Study Group. The event will be held **in various formats: fully online, in Spain, and in the USA.** In addition, the event will be open to participants from universities involved in the *Elevate Your Teaching: Engaging and Inspiring Your Students* initiative, creating a broader space for exchange and learning. If you are interested in participating in this Forum but do not meet the specified requirements, **please feel free to contact us.** We are open to hearing your ideas, which could contribute to this event’s goal of sharing a diverse range of teaching and learning practices. ### **CONTACT:** \- Josh Bookin: [josh\_bookin@gse.harvard.edu](mailto:josh_bookin@gse.harvard.edu) \- Manuel Iglesias Soilán: