A group of four participants discussing the documents laying on the table in Tropea, Italy.

EUPeace Launches Network of Associated Schools for “the Internationalisation of Teacher Education”

From 4-7 May, the University of Calabria organised an event to “Launch the Network of EUPeace Associated Schools” (EUPeace InNet) in Tropea, Italy. EUPeace Fund-4 supported the invitation of directors and teachers from EUPeace Associated Schools, who, together with members from WP3, co-constructed an Alliance-wide Network between and among EUPeace universities and schools for operationalising the “internationalisation of teacher education”.

From 4 May to 7 May, members from Work Package 3 (WP3) of the EUPeace Alliance invited directors and teachers from their respective EUPeace Associated Schools to the lovely seaside town of Tropea, Italy, to launch the EUPeace Network of Associated Schools (EUPeace InNet), supported by the EUPeace Fund-4.

While the primary purpose of the event was to consolidate collaboration between EUPeace universities and their EUPeace Associated Schools, on Day 1 (5 May), our EUPeace Network “constructed an EUPeace bridge”. The Network linked up with two external, but very relevant groups: (1) “CLILNetLE”, an eCOST Action and European Union-funded initiative, which brings together 200-plus academics researching how attention to “the language of learning” is central to establishing inclusive education, and (2) the local chapter of the “Progetto Lauree Scientifiche (PLS)” (Chemistry Department, University of Calabria), an Italian Ministry-funded project with the mission of making STEM education attractive to all students.

Not only did this link EUPeace to other relevant educational bodies, the Alliance gained recognition for its pragmatic and innovative approach to attaining peace, justice and inclusion through the internationalisation of teacher-education.

Contact

Teresa Ting

University of Calabria

teresa.ting@unical.it

A large group of people participating in a shrinking circle activity in Tropea, Italy.

Operationalising the Internationalisation of Teacher Education

On Day 2, WP3 members worked alongside Associated School invitees to operationalise “the internationalisation of teacher-education”. A key outcome was the creation of frameworks for facilitating international internships and establishing concrete steps for guiding information exchange and organisational processes between home universities and host schools. For example, one framework outlines features of a centralised contact database that would provide information for optimising matches between academic timelines and assessment criteria, while still accommodating a flexible internship model that allows for multi-site placements.

A Toolkit for Internationalising Teacher Education

Day 3 was dedicated to operationalising the “EUPeace School for All” Concept Paper (S4A) and the Handbook on Internationalising Teacher Education (HITE). Participants were tasked with designing tools for an “Internationalisation of Teacher Education Toolkit” (ITE-Toolkit). Harnessing the expertise of school directors and teachers and merging these key insights with those of university teaching and administrative staff, the groups designed protocols and tools for the ITE-Toolkit, ranging from lesson plans, a school-wide “Community Outreach Event Planner”, a “School for All Environment Audit”, to an “Inclusive Education Comparison Tool” that would also be invaluable for teacher-education.

Only the Beginning

Although the Spring Training School in Tropea concluded, the work has only just begun. While the event in Italy launched the Network, post-event processing between newly minted transnational groups will co-construct the valuable insights for bringing this Network to life.