File photo (Image credit: CFJC Today).
TRU Helping Ukrainian Teachers

TRU webinars helping Ukrainian teachers with professional development amid war with Russia

Dec 7, 2023 | 12:15 PM

KAMLOOPS — Despite the ongoing war with Russia, Ukrainian secondary and post-secondary teachers and faculty members met their teaching requirements thanks in part to an online webinar series hosted by Thompson Rivers University (TRU).

In a news release issued Thursday (Dec. 7) morning, TRU says its International Training Centre and Iryna Kobets, a Ukrainian agent with the International Cultural Education Agency, held a series to help members meet their annual professional development requirements amid the war.

TRU says the series began in spring and consisted of four webinars delivered by five faculty and staff from the university. The training centre started with a goal of connecting with 15 participants but ended up with 40.

“The response from participants in our webinars reflects the significant impact of these educational initiatives,” Kobets says. “An impressive 76 per cent of participants have expressed their dedication to implementing the newly acquired knowledge and skills, while an even more remarkable 82 per cent have reported the development of higher-order thinking capabilities.”

Starting in January 2024, TRU says it and Kobets will hold additional webinars covering a broader range of topics that focus on teaching techniques and systems, digital classroom delivery and faculty development in global engagement and academic integrity.

Each session taught by a TRU faculty or staff member is expected to welcome more than 50 Ukrainian participants.

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