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Education & Civic Activism
PEACE EDUCATION FOR FUTURE TEACHERS
ANCHORING MULTICULTURAL YOUTH WORK IN THE UNIVERSITY CURRICULUM FOR FUTURE TEACHERS IN THE REPUBLIC OF NORTH MACEDONIA
This peace education project started in 2008 and is based on cooperation between the Center for Balkan Cooperation LOJA, based in Tetovo, and the German organization K. Wustrow within the framework of the German Civil Peace Service. It aims at the establishment of a university curriculum on inter-ethnic youth work as integral part of future teachers training in 6 mainly pedagogical faculties of the 5 universities in North Macedonia. The cooperation with universities is based on legal agreements (memorandum of understandings) with CBC LOJA.
Our vision
The project aims at implementing a university curriculum on intercultural education and a non-violent approach to conflict transformation in formal and non-formal trainings of future teachers in pedagogical faculties. The project team strives for a sustainable change by anchoring multicultural youth work in the universities as well as support of the democratic processes and contribution towards peaceful coexistence, cooperation and dialogue among all ethnic groups. Through this, the educational system in North Macedonia should be strengthened.
Our Project
The project started in 2008 and targets institutionalizing a course on multicultural education in six faculties for future teachers in NMK. The project provides a unique offer of quality educational activities for students of pedagogy that at the same time tackle important ethnic and social questions. Furthermore, it opens possibilities for future teachers to learn a nonviolent approach to conflict resolution and the prevention of violence in ethnically mixed areas of Macedonia. The project has contributed towards the long-term anchoring of inter-ethnic youth work in the formal training of teachers.
University course
In order to achieve our vision, we established university courses as main activities in cooperation with five universities based on legal agreements (memorandum of understandings) with CBC LOJA. The university course is implemented in two phases. First, the establishment of the course system in a certain university with the help of the project team in cooperation with professors and second integration of the course within the university system monitored and advised by the project team but without their direct involvement in the implementation.
University courses consist of three components: lectures in the university, trainings in nonviolent conflict transformation and practical placement.
1. Courses
The theoretical part is taught by professors within the respective universities. Generally, the university course covers the topic of multicultural education. There is a common curriculum for all universities, however, the direction of the course depends upon the expertise of the professors aiming at fulfilling the common objectives of the curriculum.
2. Training
In order to sensibilize students on intercultural education and a non-violent approach to conflict transformation, they are taken out of their culturally stable surrounding so that they are able to reflect upon themselves in regard to attitudes, prejudices and behaviours and are given skills and knowledge by professional trainers to deal with them. By that, the team promotes multipliers to increase mutual understanding in this culturally diverse environment and to become active citizens for changes in the society.
3. Practical Placement
To get practical experiences of gained skills and theoretical knowledge from the lectures and the trainings the students finally work in ethnically mixed groups to organize small initiatives. In these small initiatives they can bring in their own ideas for positive social change.
Further activities
– Gathering with students of different universities:
These activities consist of 2 to 3 days gathering of students coming from different universities. They have the chance to get to know each other, exchange the experiences they gained during the course, and work on the creation of small initiatives for positive social change.
– Student exchange and study visits:
Study visits provide the students the opportunity of learning through exchange by visiting organizations and educational institutions that work on the topic of multiculturalism. The purpose is to generate an exchange of experience and good practice with other countries.
– Organization of or taking part in public debates and events:
In 2014 we organized a regional conference on Peace Education in Ohrid, where the professionals from the region and the country could exchange and speak about obstacles and challenges working in this field and possible development in the field.
– Involve of students in different activities of Loja:
Many of the university students are given the chance to participate in activities organized by CBC LOJA. In that way they could act as active citizens for positive changes in our society.
Handbook for students – For the course on multiculturalism
The course readers have been developed by the project team in cooperation with SEEU based on experiences gained during the course implementation. The content of the course, as well as its underlying methods and ideas are accessible to the interested public.
Partner universities:
South East European University, Tetovo (SEEU)
State University of Tetovo (SUT)
University of St. Cyril and Methodius, Skopje (UKIM)
University Goce Delchev, Shtip (UGD)
University of St. Clement of Ohrid, Bitola (UKLO)
Faculty of Pedagogy (University of St. Cyril and Methodius), Skopje (UKIM)
Project Partners
The project is in the frames of the Civil Peace Service that aims at non-violent conflict resolutions in various countries worldwide. The project is implemented with the support of the German partner organization KURVE Wustrow and is being financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Materials related to the project: