12 - Spain - Teaching methods

University tertiary education

Universities enjoy autonomy to make all academic arrangements. The departments are the basic bodies responsible for organising research and teaching in the respective disciplines. Thus, university departments articulate and coordinate teaching and research activities at university level.

Although lectures continue being one of the most common teaching methods used in Spanish universities, seminars and team work are gradually being implemented as additional methodology. Practical classes such as laboratory or computing are more frequent for higher experimental studies. Practical classes, whether assessed or not, carried out in external institutions or companies are a component in a considerable number of the syllabuses in university degrees. In addition, the departments develop their own mechanisms in order to integrate and link the contents of the different subject areas, as well as to set them within the educational objectives of the relevant syllabus.

The use of the new technologies within the classrooms has become common practice: presentations using the computer or slides; the use of video; computer-assisted learning, etc. The exchange of information between teacher and student is also common by means of the Internet (virtual classes, web pages, etc). Some universities set up permanent technological teaching support services with the aim of devising multimedia materials and encouraging the use of information and communication technologies.

The Institutes of Educational Sciences ( ICE), attached to the different Spanish universities, aim to provide quality education through the continuing training and professional development of teachers of the different educational levels, the promotion of research on education, pedagogical advice, methodological innovation, the support of lecturers and the coordination with other levels of the education system. The programmes they normally carry out are the following:

  • Initial training: These are training programmes on university teaching which serve as a basis for teachers’ performance. They are mainly aimed at newly qualified teachers or to those who do not have any teaching training.
  • In-service training: These are training programmes for the improvement of teaching skills in specific areas, such as computer technologies, methodological experiences and innovations, personal development, university organisation and management.

In addition, these Institutes carry out a task aimed at the training of students in two stages:

  • Pregraduate: Optional subjects on study skills.
  • Postgraduate: Doctorate subjects on research methodology.

A process of full revision of university methodology has recently started through the setting up of a Committee for the Revision of Educational Methodology in universities. This Committee, together with the former University Coordination Council has published "Proposals for the Revision of University Methodologies’, as a tool of reference for improving quality in teaching within the European Higher Education Area framework. The report sets out a series of recommendations which should be realised in the appropriate legal changes.

Non-university tertiary education

The information about teaching methods in non-university higher education is available in the following subsections.

Advanced vocational training

The teaching methodology for advanced specific vocational training matches that of the intermediate vocational training.

Enseñanzas de régimen especial

The information about teaching methods in enseñanzas de régimen especial
is available in the following subsections.

Artistic studies

The methodology used in Artistic studies varies depending on the specific characteristics of the kind of art involved. In general, the theoretical basis of knowledge is reinforced maintaining at the same time a predominantly practical approach to these studies. Technology is widely used as a didactic element in this provision.

As regards Music studies, individualised teaching is encouraged, while in the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Assets, teamwork is encouraged for future professionals.

Sports studies

The training of Técnicos Deportivos Superiores encourages the necessary integration of scientific, technical, practical, technological and organisational contents with the objective of offering a general overview of the demands of the different sports specialisations in which students are involved.


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Date: 2009
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