Abstract:

European directives in education are related to the introduction of new measures to promote key competences and digital skills. The need for developing key knowledge and skills before entering the teaching profession is imposed by the introduction of the competence approach in education in response to the integration of the European key competences at all levels in the education system. eTwinning is defined as the community for schools in Europe where pedagogical specialists can collaborate, share expertise, enhance skills and knowledge, and become better professionals. eTwinning’s overall objectives are consistent with the national competence-based approach of the curricula. In 2012, eTwinning launched an internal initiative targeting colleges, universities and teacher training institutes in several European countries. Its aim was to introduce eTwinning in initial teacher training.

Since 2014, eTwinning is part of the Erasmus+ Programme and is funded under Key Action 2. In 2021 Erasmus+ Programme Guide, eTwinning, alongside other online platforms, was recommended as a tool for virtual cooperation and experimentation and is pointed out as key to successful cooperation partnerships.

In 2021, the Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science revised the competence profile of preschool teacher trainees. Six main groups of competences (educational environment, pedagogical interaction with children, leadership, work with parents and the family community, educational work, work in a multicultural and inclusive environment) including detailed description of knowledge and skills to be acquired in the process of their study, were defined. Recognising the benefits of introducing eTwinning to the initial preschool teacher training in support of forming and developing part of the required competences, in 2021 the elective subject Management of the digital educational environment with eTwinning was included in the curriculum of Preschool and primary school pedagogy undergraduate programme in the University of Ruse, Bulgaria. The integral connection of eTwinning and Erasmus+ is presented in the content of the subject.

The focus of the paper is to review the new competence profile of the preschool teacher trainees in Bulgaria in correlation to the opportunities provided by the eTwinning Platform to the formation, development and improvement of professional competencies. It also presents the structure and the content of the elective subject Management of the digital educational environment with eTwinning. A survey conducted among preschool teachers, involved in eTwinning and Erasmus+ projects in kindergartens, is used as a research method. Results provide evidence in support of the benefits of integrating eTwinning and Erasmus+ in the initial teacher-training curriculum with regard to developing key knowledge, skills and competences before embarking on the teaching profession.

Keywords:

eTwinning, Erasmus+, Initial Preschool Teacher Training, Key Competences.