TNMU held advanced training courses in pedagogical skills for academic staff

From October 12 to 22, 2026, I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University held professional development courses for academic staff on “Communicative Competence of the Teacher: From Conscious Communication to Professional Mediation.” The training was organized by the university’s Center for Advancing Teachers’ Pedagogical and Professional Skills.

Fifty academic staff members took part in the training. The 1-ECTS-credit program (30 hours) focused on developing pedagogical skills, improving communication abilities, and building effective approaches to professional interaction within the educational environment.

The course combined modern educational approaches with practical tools for professional communication. Participants explored the specifics of adult learning through the lens of andragogy and constructivism, modern approaches to motivating students, and the role of a teacher’s communicative competence in preparing future medical professionals.

Special attention was given to assessing learning outcomes, facilitating the educational process, and providing constructive feedback. An important part of the training involved discussing ethical principles and professional boundaries in medicine and education, as well as strategies for constructive conflict resolution. Participants showed particular interest in the practical aspects of nonviolent communication, including the use of “I-messages” in challenging professional situations.

The course also covered opportunities for developing critical thinking, responsibility, and openness to change, as well as integrating sustainable development goals into the educational process.

The training was held in a hybrid format, combining online sessions with in-person meetings. The practical component included small-group work using the World Café method, neurogymnastics exercises, and digital interactive tools such as Mentimeter and Google Forms. This format encouraged active participation, experience sharing, and collaborative problem-solving for current challenges in teaching practice.

The course served as a platform for professional dialogue, reflection on personal communication practices, and the search for effective approaches to interacting with students and colleagues.

Developing teachers’ communicative competence is an essential part of improving the quality of medical education. Educational initiatives like this one, run by TNMU’s Center for Advancing Teachers’ Pedagogical and Professional Skills, help foster a culture of professional communication, support a constructive learning environment, and promote the ongoing development of pedagogical skills among the university’s academic staff.