During the course, students work remotely in international teams on a current educational theme. The Teachers Academy developed for this purpose, which can be reused each year. After eight weeks, the students meet in person for a week full of workshops, school visits, and reflection sessions, through which they develop their own perspectives on the theme. They are also challenged to reflect together on how to collaborate effectively within a (culturally) diverse group.
International collaboration in teacher education: STEP off to a successful start
In January, uu77 hosted the exchange week of the first edition of STEP, an international course for students training to become secondary school teachers. The course is an initiative of the Radboud Teachers Academy, in collaboration with the universities of Vienna, Bremen, and Salamanca, and is funded by Erasmus+.
Giving more responsibility to students
The Nijmegen edition focused on the theme promoting learner autonomy from an inclusive perspective. Research shows that student engagement increases when they are given more choice, insight into their learning needs, and space for emotional reflection. What opportunities does education offer to give students more responsibility for their own learning? And what is needed to ensure equal opportunities in doing so?
Personal Teacher Leadership
It turned out to be a vibrant and inspiring exchange week for both students and teachers. Highlights of the included the school visit to Montessori College Nijmegen, the keynote lecture by Prof. Paulien Meijer on the connection between developing autonomy and identity, and the Personal Teacher Leadership (PLD) training, about which one student said: “I will carry this with me for the rest of my life.”
The next edition will be organised by the University of Bremen and offered by the Radboud Teachers Academy as a specialisation course in all teacher training programmes for secondary education. Want to know more? Take a look at the website of Radboud Teachers Academy to see the the teacher training programmes offered by uu77.
Contact information
- Organizational unit
- Radboud Teachers Academy