Analysis of European teachers competence profile

Abstract

In this paper we present the results of a descriptive study of European teachers' current competencies and those that they should have from their own point of view. The research was conducted through a survey with a sample of 914 non-university teachers from the Balearic Islands. It is part of the COMENIUS project, Competences of Professional Educators in Europe (COPE), in which we analyzed the level of teaching competences in six countries of the European Union. The data were analyzed using the technique of discrepancy (Priority Need Index PNI). In this paper we analyze the data by competences, by competence category, by years of teaching experience and by educational level. From the results we may highlight that teachers from Balearic Islands admit to have higher training requirements than those in the six European countries analyzed. In the Balearic Islands novice teachers are those with fewer training needs of foreign language and digital competences, while teachers having 6-17 years of experience are those with fewer needs in the other competence categories. By educational level we may emphasize that secondary education teachers declare to have fewer educational needs. Based on these data, as well as those of similar studies, the authors advocate to carry on more research around teachers competences and to conduct more training activities that will increase their level of competences.