Co-designing teacher education through North-South Partnership

GINTL UOULU-UNAM Collaboration in Teacher Education

Teachers are increasingly challenged by complex questions about equity, diversity and justice. This joint collaboration between the University of Oulu (UOULU) and University of Namibia (UNAM) contributes towards strengthening intercultural approach in teacher education. The North-South cooperation is a critical part of internationalization of teacher education, which can promote new understanding(s) both locally and globally on issues of equity and justice. This project is part of the Global Innovation Network in Teaching and Learning (GINTL, see more gintl.org) network funded by the Ministry of Education and Culture, Finland.

Funders

School visits provide opportunities for developing contextual understanding of educational needs

Project information

Project duration

-

Funded by

Other Finnish

Project funder

Ministry of Education and Culture, Finland

Project coordinator

University of Oulu

Contact information

Contact person

Project description

To strengthen teacher education through joint research focusing on the aspect of practicum supervision and education in diverse contexts. To enhance capacity of teacher educators through joint research, co-design of teaching and learning materials and practices and exchanges.

Project actions

By sharing experiences, perspectives and contextual expertise, the project aims to develop teacher education in order to better respond to local and global educational needs and contextual challenges. The project focuses on early childhood teacher education with a special emphasis on play, environmental education and teaching practicum.

The project activities include:

1. Research on teaching practicum, play and outdoor pedagogy and education in indigenous contexts

2. Review of past and development of new content and practices to strengthen responsive and relevant teacher education in socio-culturally diverse contexts

3. Teacher and student exchanges

Partner

The University of Namibia (UNAM), is the Namibia's premier institution of tertiary education. It consists of four faculties and 12 campuses country-wide. Khomasdal campus is home to teacher education students specializing in primary education. The campus is centrally located in the suburb of Khomasdal, Windhoek.

Upcoming

Childhood development and Sustainable pedagogies

is approx.2-weeks visiting programme between the University of Oulu and University of Namibia organized by the Global Innovation Network for Teaching and Learning (GINTL) project between the two institutions. The aim is to enhance inclusive and socio-culturally responsive and relevant teacher education through collaboration and co-design of teaching and learning content and practices. The visiting programme is an opportunity to participate in the co-development in the areas of early childhood education, environmental and sustainability education, and teaching practicum. Students are expected to participate in the programme for approx. two weeks and two days of planning, including


- one week in Oulu (29th of April until 4th of May) AND
- one week in Namibia (4th of May-12th of May).

The programme includes lectures, site visits, and student activities. Students will co-plan and implement the programme in collaboration with the GINTL Oulu-UNAM team.

Four students discussing together

"Reimagining Teachers and Teacher Education for Our Futures"

The registration for GINTL conference "Reimagining Teachers and Teacher Education for Our Futures" is now open! More information and registration link is available here:

https://www.helsinki.fi/en/conferences/reimagining-teachers-and-teacher-education-our-futures/registration

Conference: Reimagining Teachers and Teacher Education for Our Futures

Date: 18.6.-20.6.2024

Venue: University of Helsinki, Main building, City Center Campus

About the conference:

The Reimagining Teachers and Teacher Education for Our Futures conference will explore the future of the teaching profession and teachers’ work, and the crucial role that teachers have in shaping the critical, transversal skills that are necessary for our futures as outlined in the seminal report by The UNESCO International Commission on the Futures of Education. The Conference is organized and hosted by the Faculty of Educational Sciences, University of Helsinki and its UNESCO Chairs professor Hannele Niemi and professor Arto Kallioniemi in collaboration with the UNITWIN UNESCO network on Teacher Education for Social Justice and Diversity.

You are warmly welcome!

The conference organizing committee.

https://www.helsinki.fi/en/conferences/reimagining-teachers-and-teacher-education-our-futures

Sharing experiences of GINTL Collaboration

Intensive week in Oulu, April 2024
September 2023, Windhoek, Namibia. Building partnerships and sharing common interests: Visiting in the European Delegation to discuss the progress and challenges in the development of early childhood teacher education
Exploring teaching and learning materials in early childhood education and care centre in April 2023, Oulu
Collaborative working in Khomasdal Campus, University of Namibia in November 2022.
In May 2022, two representatives from the University of Namibia came to visit in Oulu to kick-off the project planning