Developing Global Citizenship: Collaborative Working between Staffordshire University and TAMK

Staffordshire University School of Education and the School of Vocational Teacher Education of Tampere University of Applied Sciences (TAMK) have strengthened ties following the completion of their first joint project. 

 During my visit to Tampere in May 2015 (ET July, p18) it was agreed to facilitate collaboration between our students. Our intention was to start with small but achievable ideas before developing more ambitious plans. It was therefore decided that the first project was to create joint posters on education subjects as chosen by the volunteers. Communicating via Skype, Adobe Connect and Google Docs, the students developed IT skills as well as their Global Citizenship graduate attribute. Student feedback was positive about this experience, with participants enjoying the opportunity to discuss education issues with peers from a different country.

Collaborative posters created by SU BA Education students and TAMK Teacher students

Following Jori Leskelä’s teaching exchange visit in 2015, the School of Education also benefited from Sisko Mällinen’s expertise both in terms of e-learning training and understanding of the Finnish education system. Highly rated in global comparative studies, her lecture was of great interest and value to the BA Education students studying global education systems. The Erasmus exchange also gave us further opportunity to discuss future collaborative opportunities which we have organised into short, medium and long term goals as outlined in my recent Pechakucha presentation to the Faculty:

Short term (this academic year)

• Arrange online conversations between English and Finnish students.
• TAMK student designed e-learning resources will be evaluated by BA Education volunteers

Medium term (next academic year)

• Repeat collaborative poster project as part of formal assessment
• Mini lectures via skype/zoom

Long term

• Exchange study opportunities – to further develop the global citizen.

Incidentally, these faculty Pechakuchas on 15th January were great fun so I got my students to have a go themselves. They took to this task with relish and delivered superb presentations.

So in summary, we have started with small steps, but are looking forward to building further collaborative opportunities for our students to graduate as true Global Citizens.

Text: Duncan Hindmarch