In a global economy everything can be a traded- even teachers!
Many countries are becoming a part of a global educational
movement known as the teacher exchange industry- an international
professional development program in which participants
exchange teaching assignments but remain in the service
of their regular employers, thereby maintaining salary
and benefit status.
In Canada, there are teacher exchanges set up with the
following countries: the United Kingdom, the USA, the
Federal Republic
of Germany, Australia and all other Canadian provinces.
The criteria is easy to match- all you need is the will
and desire to travel and experience another country and
culture.
Teachers interested in exchanges need to meet the following
criteria: a permanent professional teaching certificate,
a tenured teaching position two years of successful teaching/administration
experience, written recommendation and approval from the
superintendent of the school district in which you are
currently teaching, medical fitness, and the ability to
assume the
financial commitment (travel and living costs).
Exchanging Ideas
In 2002, a recent teacher exchange program involved 25 teacher
delegates from Alberta who visited Thailand, Vietnam, China
and Japan. They spent approximately one month traveling to
various schools and setting up Canadian - equivalent high
school programs in Asia. The goals of the mission were: to
promote
Alberta’s education system, to promote international
partnerships, to promote international study in Alberta,
and to market Alberta’s expertise in educational goods
and services.
According to Dr. Lyle Oberg, Minister of Learning for the
province of Alberta, the trip was a success: “Alberta’s
schools and post-secondary institutions already have strong
ties to Asia and the collaborative nature of the Asia mission
both strengthened existing partnerships and made it possible
to explore new opportunities. Alberta’s learning system
is an important part of our province’s vision for the
future and international education will play a role in realizing
that vision. I know that the accomplishments of Alberta Learning’s
Mission to Asia will have a positive, lasting impact.”
Alberta enjoys a well-run and popular teacher exchange
industry at all levels of education with these Asian
partners as well
as schools and colleges in Europe.
Enhancing IT in Australia
Teachers in Australia are exchanged between districts in
order to facilitate a well-rounded educational system with
an emphasis on technology.
Currently, there is a cutting edge exchange program in place
between teachers and support workers from local eLearning
Industries.
The goals of the Australian system are:
•
To gain a better insight into what learning systems and content
Australian schools need.
•
A better understanding of how the innovative use of technology
can improve learning outcomes.
•
To foster relationships between Australian eLearning small
and
medium –sized enterprises and schools with a view to
stimulating the development of demonstrable, mutually beneficial
partnerships.
•
To enhance commercial relationships by supporting ongoing
mutually beneficial professional development exchanges between
schools and IT companies.
The government provides grant money to both parties so that
they may participate in partnerships based in enhancing IT
in schools. To qualify, teachers must submit a written proposal
outlining the beneficialoutcomes of a teacher IT- industry
exchange.
Kathy Coultas of the Multimedia Department of Infrastructure
in Australia believes this one of a kind program has bonuses
for both education and local industry:
“It is envisaged that participating companies will
gain opportunities to develop
productive relationships with schools and to learn more about
their needs and preferences. Equally, participating schools
will gain a technology mentor who will act as a sounding
board for ideas, provide guidance, direction and potentially
professional development leading to a better understanding
of the range of technology available to schools.”
if these exchange ideas have piqued your interest and you
are interested in applying for a teacher exchange go to:
USA- http://www.fulbrightexchanges.org/Default.asp
Australia: http://education.qld.gov.au/smartclassrooms/strategy/tsdev_iptrial-apply.html
Canada: http://www.education.gov.ab.ca/
UK: http://tre.ngfl.gov.uk/
Many countries provide funding in the form of grants so
don’t let money be an issue!
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