Internationalising Education

through the cross curriculum

priority of AsiaLearning from the L21CSV program

Lindy Stirling – Internationalising Education Unit, DEECD

•our students are globally competent, inter culturally aware and connected with others as responsible local and global citizens; they are well-prepared to thrive in a global society and work in a global economy;

•our education system is an international leader, our education professionals collaborate with and learn from the best, and education contributes to Victoria’s international capability and reputation.

Victoria’s vision for internationalising schools

Victoria’s School ReformsTowards Victoria as a Learning Community• Professional trust and practice

– clear expectations and professional practice• Autonomy

– curriculum• Accountability • Quality and evidence-based support

– tools and models• Partnerships that support effective learning

– Asia engaged - EMR

Victoria’s School Reforms

Vision for Languages Education• Long term commitment• Introduce compulsory languages

education for all government school students from Prep to Year 10 by 2025.

Context: DEECD Strategic Plan 2013-17

Early Childhood and

School Education

Group

International Division

• Lead the internationalisation of the Victorian school education system.

• Promote Victorian Government schools as the preferred destination for international students.

• Establish and support education partnerships and exchanges with overseas governments, jurisdictions and institutions and

• Ensure school education is a key component within Victorian Government international engagement initiatives.

Context: Internationalising education activities • International Student Program • Languages Program

• Sister School Program • Bilingual program

• Internationalisation of the school curriculum

• Language Assistant Program

• Student mobility and exchange programs • Overseas teacher and student study tours (to Victoria)

• Teacher mobility and exchange programs such as the International Teaching Fellowship Program (ITF)

• Internationalising education in school strategic plans and vision statements

• Leading 21st Century Schools Victoria: Engage with Asia Program

• Community service projects with an international focus or dimension

• Access Asia Schools initiative • Council of International Schools (CIS) accreditation

• International Baccalaureate • BRIDGE Program

• School-based language centre • School-based cultural programs and activities

• Hosting of overseas delegations • International collaborative learning projects

Context: Australian curriculumLearning Areas: English, History, Science, Maths

General Capabilities: Cross Curriculum Priorities:

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history and culture

Asia and Australia’s engagement with Asia

Sustainability

A snapshotSystemic and professional association participation• Strong systemic support and participation across the three sectors.• The Victorian principals associations continue to provide a high level of

commitment, advocacy and participation in the project.• 20% of all Government schools, 13% of Catholic schools, 8% of

Independent schools and 17% of all Victorian schools are engaged with the L21CSV project. The 5 cohorts now total 376 principals extending to over 17,000 teachers whose influence extends to nearly 295,000 students.

Training and support for principals • A 1½ day training forum delivered to principals received ‘excellent’

evaluations• A further ½ day training and reporting forum for principals also

received 100% positive ‘effective’ or ‘highly effective’ evaluation responses.

A snapshot from Round 3 Teacher capacity building • The level of teacher expertise in studies of Asia has nearly trebled in

Round Three schools.• The project has resulted in a significant increase in the inclusion of

Asia across the curriculum.• The majority of principals have supported teacher professional

development and resource acquisition.• 156 teachers representing 78 schools participated in the new

professional development program for curriculum leaders in 2012• 350 Victorian teachers participated in DEECD led professional

development programs focused on studies of Asia.Effective investment• The majority rate the project as highly effective or effective.• Principals and stakeholders recommend continuation of the project.

A snapshot from Round 3School policy and support of school communities• 49% of respondents reported that school policy documents now give

importance to studies of Asia – important in sustainability• 91% say the L21CSV project is supporting their capacity to deliver

against the Australian Curriculum cross curriculum priority of Asia.• 91% report school community support for studies of Asia in curriculum.Student learning outcomes• 86% of respondents are aiming for significantly increased rigor and

depth in student learning outcomes related to studies of Asia in 2013. Support for Asian Languages• 92% report a positive attitude amongst the school community to the

inclusion of an Asian Language in their schools. • Significantly, 38% of participating schools have commenced delivery of

an Asian language since joining the project.

Background and overview

Research and theory of change

5 Step plan1. Make studies of Asia a priority for school change2. Provide the school leadership team with a rationale and

implementation strategies for studies of Asia to support school level decision-making and action

3. Provide a practical model that provides high quality teacher professional learning

4. Support teachers responsible for in-school or cluster professional learning with resources to assist implementation

5. Continue to provide materials and resources for teachers

Guiding advice• it must command a high profile and high status -

thus seek the support and participation of their professional associations at the national and state levels.

• It must be supported by high level policy.• It must recruit principals only• It must provide opportunities for principals to share

their experience and collaborate.

Outcomes• Effective cross sector partnership for Asia literacy• Strong advocacy and participation from Victorian principal associations • Provision of PL to principals• Raise awareness in school communities of the importance of Asia literacy• Conduct audits to establish current level of Asia literacy in participating

schools• Schools develop plans to increase Asia literacy• Schools implement plan to increase Asia literacy• Increase in teacher capacity to include studies of Asia in the

curriculum• Evaluation of school achievements • Increased level of teaching/learning resources to support studies of Asia• Building a statewide, cross sector learning community of principals focused

on building Asia literacy in schools.

Longer term impacts

• Increased school communities’ understanding of the importance of Asia literacy in schools

• Asia literacy included in school policy to support a whole school approach and sustainability

• Increased studies of Asia in schools’ curricula• Increased teacher confidence and capacity• Increased capacity of principals to lead change• Increased school capacity to implement the Australian Curriculum’s X-C

priority of Asia & general capability of Intercultural Understanding• Increased levels of student knowledge/ awareness/understanding relating to

Asia• Increased numbers of schools teaching an Asian language • The increasing number of participating Victorian principals is moving

Asia literacy from a peripheral trend into the mainstream education agenda

Program supports• Professional development of teachers/curriculum leaders• A dedicated wikispace

Year Total visits to the studies of Asia wikispace

Visits to units of work wikispace

Total visits per year

2009 22,945 4,085 27,030

2010 42,366 6,952 49,318

2011 53,913 15,053 68,966

2012 42,435 18,191 60,626

ConnectionsL21CSV – enhancing internationalising education,

intercultural understanding and Asia literacy

Monitoring

Degree of depth in student learning outcomes relating to Asia

Response

Survey 1

Response

Survey 2

Intention for 2013

No Asia

Festivals flags food

Positive attitudes towards cultures and

people of Asia

Deep learning progressing across the

years

8%

65%

21%

6%

0%

38%

53%

9%

0%

2%

72%

26%

MonitoringIn which curriculum areas is Asia included?  Response

survey 1Response survey 2

Intention for 2013

The Arts 48% 85% 86.2%English 32% 72% 84.5%The Humanities - all 59% 68% 79.3%

Economics 5% 18% 27.6%

Geography 50% 63% 62.1%

History 36% 53% 67.2%

Languages 36% 52% 67.2%Mathematics 3% 18% 27.6%Science 0% 10% 29.3%None 7% 0% 0%

Monitoring

What is the general level of staff expertise in studies of Asia?

  Response survey 1 Response survey 2

High 1% 2%

Medium 26% 72%

Low 73% 26%

Most Significant Change Process

Most Significant Change Process

L21CSV and Internationalising Education

Marlborough Primary School on the road to Internationalising through Asia Literacy.

More information can be found at: DEECD International Education website at:http://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/principals/management/Pages/international.aspx

Studies of Asia wikisite at:• http://studiesofasia.wikispaces.com/L21CSV

where the three reports are located. Case studies, comments networks and materials connected to the project are also available on the site.

• Lindy Stirling stirling.lindy.j@edumail.vic.gov.au or telephone 9637 3620