The 1st International Scientific Conference on Teaching, Learning and Teacher Education (TLTE) were organized by the Pedagogical Faculty in Vranje, University of Niš, Serbia, in collaboration with the Faculty of Education, Nevşehir Hacı Bektaş Veli University, Turkey, the Faculty of Education, Aristotle’s University of Thessaloniki, Greece, and the Faculty of Education, University of Primorska, Slovenia, held in Vranje, November 17-18, 2023.
The main theme of the conference was Quality of Teaching and Learning (QTL) – Reality and Possibilities. Why this topic? The quality of education is relative, based on values, beliefs and interests and depends on the values that are important to society at a given time, as well as on the concepts of learning, teaching, instruction and education. Definitions of the quality of education change over time, so quality assurance is a process that is always current. It is crucial to the development of society as a whole, and education systems have changed fundamentally in recent years due to various events around the world. The coronavirus pandemic has changed almost every aspect of education. It was not just the shift from the classroom to the computer screen. It challenged fundamental ideas about teaching, learning, attendance, exams, funding, the role of technology, the human connections that hold it all together, and so on. A year on, a rethink is underway and there is a growing sense that some changes could be permanent. With this in mind, we felt that looking at various current issues related to the reality and possibilities of improving the quality of teaching and learning will help to clarify various issues in this area and overcome them in the future.
The conference brought together academics from 10 countries and 31 universities and scientific research institutions to raise awareness of the various global challenges related to the following topics: Assuring and enchancing the QTL, Leadership for QTL, the linkage between QTL and curriculum design, Teaching for learning, QTL – students at the heart of education, QTL in the changing social context, a good teacher and learning processes, modern technologies in the function of improving QTL and the other topics related to the theme of the conference. In this context, participants had the opportunity to learn about the experiences of different countries on each of these topics, which enabled them to look at these issues from different perspectives.
By looking at these issues of permanent importance from the perspective of those involved in the teaching process, some possible answers to questions related to the problems of teachers, students and vulnerable groups were provided.
Accordingly, participants addressed issues related to teachers and their professional development, their views on distance education and the creation of competency profiles for teachers. Issues faced by members of vulnerable groups included: issues related to ethnic minority students and teachers and their attitudes, women’s careers and the challenges they face, LGBTQ+ studies, domestic violence, student diversity, etc. In the context of teaching and learning, various topics related to digital textbooks, picture books for children, math competitions, urban landscapes as teaching tools, microteaching, sustainable development goals and cognitive models were addressed. The “guided” method, interactive teaching, hybrid learning, phraseology in effective learning were discussed.
In the area of modern technologies, the quality of distance learning during the Covid 19 pandemic, the use of artificial intelligence in teaching, e-mentoring, the barriers to the use of EDTECH as well as the impact of the use of video games in teaching, the use of digital devices in university education, teaching, educational computer software were examined. The attitudes, quality and competencies of future educators and teachers, the developmental and educational model of supervision and ethics in physical education were also examined.
By examining key aspects of educational quality, such as leadership, innovation in teaching, the relationship between teaching quality and curriculum design, the participants identified opportunities to improve educational practice. Particular attention was given to the application of modern technologies to improve the quality of learning, as well as the challenges faced by different social groups, including ethnic minorities, women, the LGBTQ+ community and people with special needs.
The conference highlighted the commitment of researchers, teachers and experts from different countries to improving the educational system. The exchange of ideas and experiences provided participants with diverse perspectives on the quality of teaching and learning, taking into account different issues and challenges.
As the global market for knowledge and education evolves, the academic community must constantly look for ways to improve and adapt the quality of teaching and learning to meet societal demands. The contributions presented at the conference aim to address these challenges, expand collective knowledge and build a robust professional network.
Through an interdisciplinary approach, the conference provided a platform to shed light on the complexity of educational processes and pave the way for new perspectives and solutions. The event emphasized that improving the quality of education is a dynamic process that requires continuous adaptation to social, technological and educational trends. This conference played a key role in promoting dialog and joint research and made a valuable contribution to the development of the education sector.
Finally, we would like to thank all the authors, co-authors, reviewers, organizers and participants who made this conference a resounding success.

Nela Malinović-Jovanović, PhD
Chairmen of the International Programme Committee

Milica Ristić, PhD
Co Chairmen of the International Programme Committee