Global Intercultural Practice in the South (GIPS)

Members as of 1 February 2022: Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Oslo Metropolitan University, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Karlstad University. A new application for network development and expansion of was submitted to Nordplus on 1 February 2022. The goal for this Nordic network is to strengthen the intercultural and global understanding of student teachers through practical training abroad. Established in 2011 the network is primarily focused on practical teacher training practice in the Third World. We have a long tradition of networking and sharing experience. In 2019, we completed a comprehensive catalogue of experience that also serves as a manual that is used by educational institutions that organise this form of practical training. The network has also become an arena for sharing and getting collating research work around practice in the Third World. This network is involved with increasing intercultural and global understanding among future teachers. This is important in parallel with increasing globalisation and migration, which contribute to wider diversity in classrooms. Important skills can be obtained by teachers through expanding knowledge of different cultural practices. The notion of a “Global Teacher” is also a relevant concept; teacher education programmes in the Nordic region must focus on the rest of the world if we are to support sustainable development. Both UN Sustainable Development Goal No. 4 (Quality Education) and Goal No. 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) are relevant goals for the network. The pandemic that has affected us in recent years also reinforces the need to maintain good partnerships not only with partners in the Third World, but also to strengthen partnerships in the Nordic region. The network also works with digital tools as a complement to collaboration and exchange. Using accessible digital platforms, we want to enable our students to meet students from other parts of the world to facilitate the exchange of experiences, learning from each other, developing each other’s knowledge and preparing to become a teacher in the globalised world. In this way, the network also contributes to the development of “Domestic internationalisation”, which has been the subject of increasing attention as a complement and alternative to physical travel.

Members: