Partnership to boost Saudi Arabian education leadership
A joint initiative between Victoria University of Wellington's commercialisation office, Viclink and Victoria University of Wellington is helping teachers from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to drive change in their education system.
Saudi Arabia is focused on diversifying its economy away from oil and creating more high-skills jobs. Recognising that education is a key driver of economic and human development, the Kingdom’s Ministry of Education is sending hundreds of teachers around the world (to the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand) to engage in long-term, real-life experiences in other cultures. By exposing teachers to different ways of teaching and learning, the Ministry hopes to hone their teaching and English language skills, and create global-thinking citizens who can share their newfound knowledge with Saudi students when they return home.
The international teaching programme—known as Khebrat, meaning ‘experience’—is part of a major initiative by the Saudi Ministry to transform the country’s education system.
“The Kingdom recognises that in order to prepare their youth for a post-oil job market—one where they will need their own scientists, engineers, economists and lawyers—they need to nurture critical, independent thinkers,” says Jeff Howe, Viclink’s General Manager, International Development. “And that starts with teachers.”
Eighteen Saudi Arabian teachers will take part in a Wellington-based, one-year programme aimed at building the teachers’ leadership capabilities.
The University’s English Language Institute will provide the English Proficiency Programme—18 weeks of intensive English language training—which will lead into a 10-week school immersion programme that is being organised and supported by the Faculty of Education.
The school immersion—taking place in Term 2 of 2019—will see the Saudi Arabians working alongside Wellington-based primary and secondary school teachers, so they can study the New Zealand curriculum and observe classroom practice in action.
However, Dr Carolyn Tait, Head of School in the Faculty of Education, is quick to point out that the programme is not about transferring New Zealand practice, rather: “it’s more about promoting deep, critical thinking about their own teaching practice”.
She says the teachers in this cohort, who arrived in Wellington last July, will get the full benefit from their learning as they have been able to bring their families with them, and enrol their children in local schools.
“Being able to take time out from teaching to learn new skills in a new country—all while keeping their families with them—means the teachers will have a really rich, full experience while they are here. We’re expecting some great outcomes as a result.”
With some significant cultural differences to navigate, the Faculty has already carried out an intensive orientation for the teachers, but Carolyn says the learning is reciprocal.
“Not only are we improving our own inter-cultural skills, the experience is also giving us new eyes to look at our own curriculum, and ask new questions about our own practices.”
“This partnership is a great example of how Viclink and different faculties within the University can work together to contribute to sustainable social and economic development at an international level,” she says.