Recommendation on student centered learning (12/13/2011)

Student centered learning gets more and more international attention and becomes more widespread. The Vlor looked at the impact in Flanders.
We made use of an international study of ESU (European Students' Union) and looked for good practices, problems and possible solutions.

The Vlor believes that student-centered learning can yield a higher learning efficiency. More than the traditional education, it can be a response to the rapidly changing society of today. In the new context of students who grew up with the new media, student-centered learning is a good starting point for stimulating and applying new skills.
Student centered learning is a vision on learning puts the student in the center, not only when talking about the bilateral contact between the teacher and the student, but in the whole organization of higher education, both at the structural level of the policy makers and in the higher education institutions. The recommendation looks at how student-centered learning changes the role of students, teachers, government and institutions. It affects various aspects of higher education: consultation with students, ECTS, mobility, educational learning environment, professional development.

An international survey on student centered learning shows that a lot of work has been done in Flanders. Nevertheless, there is still considerable room for further stimulus.