“A Useful and Impressive In-Field Experience”
Dr Etleva Babameto from the Albanian University of Tirana was at the University of Münster as part of a Transnational Access Fellowship (TNA) to conduct research into the optimal use of information and communication technology in higher education. She participated in a RESILIENCE Interview Training Workshop and conducted a field study at the Protestant Theological Faculty. Here she shares her experiences with us.
This is what Etleva Babameto told us:
“My current research project addresses the problems and challenges facing the higher education system in Albania, namely its quality, research work and issues related to its internationalisation and implementation of technological advancement to adapt to the digital society.
The research project is part of Albania’s efforts to shape its higher education system according to the European model, with the aim of implementing information and communication technology to meet the challenges of current globalisation. The Covid-19 crisis in 2020 showed universities the urgent need for reform. To implement this transformation, case studies are to be conducted at different European university locations.
Case study at the Faculty of Protestant Theology in Muenster
My research stay in October 2023 as part of RESILIENCE Transnational Access served as a case study with interviews to compare the German and Albanian higher education systems, using the example of the Protestant Theological Faculty of the University of Münster in Germany.
Access to libraries, sources and books as well as discussions and interviews with professors, researchers, students, administrative staff, librarians and the coordinators for study programmes, as well as the participation in public lectures provided a clear picture of the functioning of the Faculty of Protestant Theology.
The interviews provided answers on the topics of course and lecture organisation, the application of technological advances in the teaching process, coping with the pandemic situation and the switch to distance learning, experiences and results of online and face-to-face courses, the nature and characteristics of religion-related courses compared to other courses.
Workshop on Interview Training
During my research stay at the University of Münster, I also had the opportunity to take part in a workshop organised by RESILIENCE on the theory and practice of qualitative research. We received training in interview and moderation techniques and practised conducting interviews in real-life simulations in order to expand our behavioural repertoire during the field studies and to reflect on the roles of the interviewer and interviewee.
The interview training was beneficial and very relevant for my work. It provided a combination of theoretical input, discussions and practical simulations with the opportunity to apply the input in practice, evaluate the own performance as interviewer, receive feedback and thereby improve my interviewing skills.
Research Results
The results of my field study at the University of Münster on the effective application of technology, collaboration and networking have been incorporated into my research article “The future of Higher Education in Albania – Challenges and Opportunities”, which was presented at the 6th International Conference on Recent Trends in Multi-Disciplinary Research (ICRTMDR-23) in Istanbul from 10 to 11 November 2023.“
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Many thanks for this interview, Etleva Bamameto! We wish you the very best for your further research.
Read more here about our Transnational Access fellowship programme.