Global Education: The Intercultural Dimension

Info package
March 2012

1. Welcome:
Welcome to the information package of the online course: Global Education: The Intercultural
Dimension offered by the North South Centre and The Network University (TNU)
Some of the information you will find in this document has already been explained on the information
website, but other information will be new to you. So please read the whole document.
The North South Centre
The mandate of the North-South Centre of the Council of Europe is to provide a framework for European
co-operation designed to heighten public awareness of global interdependence issues and to promote
policies of solidarity complying with the Council of Europes aims and principles, respect for human rights,
democracy and social cohesion. The North-South Centres work is based on three principles: dialogue,
partnership and solidarity. Governments, parliaments, local and regional authorities and civil society
organisations constitute the partners in this quadrilogue approach and are involved in the Centres
activities. The Centre carries out studies and organises debates, workshops and training courses. It acts
as a catalyst by facilitating meetings between actors from different horizons and countries, working on
issues of common interest and encouraging the formation of networks.
The North-South Centres activities involve two lines of action:

raising European awareness of issues of global interdependence and solidarity through education
and youth programmes;

promoting North-South solidarity policies in conformity with the goals and principles of the Council
of Europe through dialogue between Europe, the Southern Mediterranean countries and Africa.

The Network University

The Network University (TNU) is a centre for collaborative learning. TNU is rooted in the University of
Amsterdam, the Netherlands. It offers innovative academic courses via the Internet to a worldwide
audience of students and professionals. Participants with different professional backgrounds share their
experiences in interactive group discussions and assignments. They become co-producers in joint
knowledge networks.
TNU's activities are aimed at generating new knowledge and insights and then spreading these
throughout the participating networks. These activities include the development and supervision of online
courses, online debates, commissioned research, workshops combining online and face-to-face learning
experiences and consultancy and strategy development on E-learning.
The concept
TNU is a large scale project that aims to provide highly interactive, innovative Internet based distance
learning to a global audience who choose for the advantages of a new form of academic education. TNU
has its roots in the department of politics of the University of Amsterdam. The initiative is based on the

conviction that societal trends in the networked age stress the need for creating educational alternatives
rather than reproducing the problems inherent to the lecture hall in an electronic form. The approach is
characterised by a number of key factors:
the formulation of didactic principles which address the broader changes in education and are
reflected in the quality of the learning experience
the facilitation of a high degree of supervision and support to the learning experience
the facilitation of collaborative learning networks
the creation of critical, relevant content
the creation of a flexible organisation able to adapt and reflect the wider changes in society.
So what are these didactic principles?
Our approach has a didactic framework based on the following 9 building blocks. We dont claim to get it
right every time, but we strive to realise the following principles in our programmes.
learning by doing: The learning process is
problem and task-driven. The assignments
will require participants to ask and answer
questions, comment on ideas, summarise
arguments, look for additional information,
compare different views, put themselves into
a specific role to deal with a problem from
that perspective etc. The participants are
strongly encouraged to accept nothing as
given, to criticise the assignments, suggest
alternatives, look for additional information
and ideas, challenge their supervisors and
fellow-participants.

learning by interaction: This is not a programme based on individual reading and a final examination.
This is a programme centred on the exchange of ideas, the testing out arguments and the sharing of
opposing views. A key thread throughout the programme is the discussion that will take place amongst all
the participants and some of the external experts who are participating.
quick feedback from supervisors: Learning is more effective if participants get a quick reaction from
other participants and supervisors. During this course, the "Internet Call Centre" will usually be staffed
during office hours (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and often also at other times. Participants are able to get into
electronic contact with one of the supervisors quickly if they send a message through the 'call center' (this
will be explained in the next email) or if they send an email message to: icd@netuni.nl (call center
message is the quickest option).
competence based learning: This course will not only be geared to provide participants with additional
information and understanding. It will explicitly try to help them develop a number of competences. The
assignments are chosen in a way that helps to acquire them.
co-responsibility for the programme: Participants share the responsibility for the further development of
the programme in different ways. The content of the programme is not fixed. Suggestions are invited to
elaborate it further and to adapt it to the concrete needs of the participants. But the co-responsibility goes
much further. People learn most when they are placed in a position that they have to teach others. Since
we want participants to learn a lot, we will put them in the position that they have to explain things to
others. This is the best check for participants to test whether they have reached a solid understanding of

the matter or not. And finally, all assignments and interactions will continuously be analysed for additional
information and ideas that could be included into the programme. In other words, the programme will be
like a living organism: it will continuously develop and adapt to incorporate earlier experiences, new
information and better insights.
Tailor-made learning: While the programme is a collective undertaking, it offers the opportunity for tailormade differentiation according to the needs of individual participants. For anybody wishing additional
explanations, further information, or a coverage of different topics, the broad range of information
available on the Internet and the support of the supervisors will make it possible to accommodate these
needs.
Non-linear learning: The possibility of individual trajectories, the open ended vast amount of information
available and the manifold ways to access this material in different ways, will give rise to processes of
non-linear learning. Different participants will have different points of departure, go through different
packages of information and read it with different ideas in mind. They may choose the sequence most
suited to their own learning trajectory. There is some "linear" order in the programme in the sense that one
specific theme forms the focus every week and all the weeks activities are structured around that theme.
Structure will further be given by the supervisors whose task it is to ensure that the individual contributions
come together in a collective learning process.
Playful learning: We want to make the programme intellectually challenging but at the same time
entertaining and full of fun. We strive to offer a variety of approaches and forms of interaction to satisfy the
"homo ludens" as much as the "homo sapiens".
Critical reflection: Participants are invited to draw our attention to any shortcomings and contradictions
that they may detect in the above points (and in the rest of the programme). Their critical reflection on all
these aspects will be highly appreciated throughout the programme.

2. Global Education: The Intercultural Dimension

Aims of the course
The Global Education: The Intercultural Dimension online learning course is designed for education
practitioners, social workers, youth activists, as well as policy and decision makers, local authorities and
intercultural cities.
The overall educational approach of this course is developed on the basis of the principles of global
education practice. It aims to use your previous experiences and knowledge to explore contents and
inspire new insights. Your reflection, and the exchange with other participants, is an important input for the
development of your and other participants deeper theoretical and practical understanding of the
intercultural dimension of global education. The course is designed as a space for you to express your
ideas and to develop your understanding in an autonomous as well as collaborative way.
This course explores the ways of addressing the issues in theory and practice, reflecting on the ideal state
considering the evidence from the reality, and developing new ways of understanding and promoting
global education in the contexts of the participants.
The specific contents include:

Introduction to the intercultural dimension of global education

Reflecting on the needs for the intercultural dimension of global education
Reviewed concepts and approaches of the intercultural dimension of global education
Understanding of existing intercultural education in practice
Dilemmas and challenges in policy development towards intercultural education
Development of strategies for intercultural political education
Rights-based approaches to social and political action

Specific aims of the course

To offer a platform to exchange ideas on global education

To reflect on the concepts related to global education and the Intercultural dimension
To develop a better understanding of Intercultural education in practice
To explore the dilemmas and challenges in Intercultural education
To assist in developing strategies for action and activities design
To connect local and international practitioners and other relevant actors in the field
To strengthen the network of global and Intercultural education practitioners

Time Frame
The amount of time you need to complete the assignments and participate will depend on your experience
with Internet, level of participation (in discussion groups) and familiarity with the subject. We strive to
make it possible to complete every week's assignment within 10 hours of reading, email and study a
week. The course consists of 4 modules, one module equals one week.
Participation
As mentioned, a participation of minimal 10 hours per wek is acquired. However, there are no activities
planned that would require you to be online at a fixed moment. All activities are so called a-synchronous,
meaning that you can choose when you want to participate. However, since each week contains a module
we expect you to participate several times per week.
"Learning Community"
The course is not only taught top down. The coaches have a specific expertise in Global Education and
Intercultural Education, but in addition their will be also some participants that have been selected upon
their specific interest or experience with the topic. Through online debates, group-assignments and
through the use of emails you are encouraged to learn from each other.
Email
For the running of the course it is important that you know in advance, which email address(es) you are
going to be using. The email-address you filled in when you registered will be the one we will be using to
keep in contact with you. Please try to stick to this email in order to help us to keep a clear overview of
who is who.
The address and start of the course
The web address for the course is www.netuni.nl/courses. On the right hand side of this page you will a
link leading to `register`. Please register there before Monday morning. After registration you will receive a
confirmation, but in any case please register only once. In the list of courses, please select only the course
Global Education: The Intercultural Dimension. On Monday morning you will receive an email-notification
that you can access the site. You then go to the address mentioned above again and fill in the username
and password that you choose during registration.
Technical preconditions for participation
In order to see our site you need to have a browser (Internet Explorer/Firefox). Under Internet options the
'javascript' options must be turned 'on' and you must 'accept cookies' (under Tools/Options/Security in
your browser). With almost all computers this is already the case, since it is a requirement for many
websites.
Forum
During the course we will have discussions, connected to that weeks subject, through an online discussion
platform called 'Forum'. How this works will be explained in an email called 'Tour of the Homepage' before
the course starts. The Forum is used for all our debates.

Certificate
Students who successfully complete the course will receive a Certificate of Completion. This award of this
certificate will be based on your completion of assignments, participation in the forums, and general
participation.

3. What we ask of YOU the participant!

Registration and profile
When you register you are asked to fill in information about yourself. Through this information the other
participants can get to know you. If you wish to change some of this information you can do so by logging
on and clicking on manage your own profile. You will be able to see your and your fellow participants
profiles and emails (if turned on) in the profile page (see upcoming document Tour of Homepage).
Email and Password
During the course a lot of interaction will take place through email. For example, when your assignment
has been reviewed by one of the coaches you receive an email-notification. Your will receive access to the
course with your chosen password (which cannot be the same as your username) on Monday morning.
Participation and group work
As should be clear from the didactic principles of TNU, we ask our participants to actively contribute to the
programme. Participation can be in the form of (amongst others) active contributions to the discussions,
asking critical questions to your fellow participants and to the supervisors, suggesting good websites or
co-operating with others in the completion of the assignments. Whatever form the participation takes it is
important to remember that in the programmes of TNU, you the participant are co-responsible for the
success of the course.
All too often the practice that is created is of disengaged students sitting in front of their monitors relatively
isolated from a broader community of students and lecturers. This is not an approach that we favour.
Rather we strive to promote collaborative learning networks. What are these? Well, collaborative learning
programmes are based on multiple interactions leading towards common and negotiated understandings
based on differences in ideas, knowledge and attitudes amongst all the participants. In this the
educational experience is process and not just product oriented. The focus is on constructing an individual
knowledge and skill base within the context of a wider group. Participants are required to actively take on
different roles within the group. In fulfilling their different roles they have to take into account their own
knowledge level and understanding as well as that of the audience. In order for this to be effective
participants need to take an active approach to learning as well as take responsibility for how someone
else understands. In this latter aspect the sense of community is vital. The shared responsibility is
increased by the fact that all contributions are added to a communal knowledge pool.
Feedback
The feedback during the programme is focused on two levels. Firstly, you can expect feedback and
interaction from your fellow participants over the duration of the course. Secondly, feedback mechanisms
are located in the Internet call centre. The Call Centre is an on-line hub providing direct and continuous
communication between students and supervisors. The core aims of the call centre are:
to create a personal profile of the learning history of each student and thus ensure that learning
problems can be identified early and potential obstacles can be overcome efficiently
to provide students with direct feedback on their personal learning trajectory
to promote interaction amongst students and between students, supervisors and experts
to filter intelligent contributions and comments made by the students and feed these back into the
programme to ensure that the programme is constantly improved and enriched.
If at any stage of the course you want to contact a member of the team at the call centre, simply send a
message through the 'call centre' on the website or email us at: icd@netuni.nl
Evaluation
We also ask all of our participants to complete and submit an evaluation form at the end of the course.

The evaluation form can be accessed online. You can either print it out and add comments to it during the
duration of the course, or alternatively submit it to us at the end of the programme.

4. What can you expect from us?

Technical problems
The TNU team is available to assist you in your own learning adventures. If you have any questions
regarding technical problems, please contact us.
Content
The TNU team will strive to respond to any questions you may have as quickly as possible. This is
applicable from Monday Friday from 9.00 18.00 (European standard time). There will undoubtedly be
times during which we will be unable to answer your questions promptly (perhaps because we are asking
for the input of an external expert). In such a case, we ask for your understanding and patience.
Attitude
As we have stated earlier the key factor in the course are you the participants. If you are not happy, let us
know. If you are happy we would like to know what is working for you and why. If you find something
unclear, an explanation is only a short email away. If you have a suggestion: we are all ears. In other
words what we would like to stress is that we look forward to interacting with you so please feel free to
share your thoughts with us.
Course team
This course will be coached by three coaches; Ditta Dolejsiova, Celina del Felice, and Vic Klabbers.

5. Tools and important guidelines for during the

course.
Guidelines for handing in assignments
Each participant has his/her own file at the call center and assignment submissions are automatically
directed into your file. In our next email 'Tour of the Homepage' we will further inform you on these
specifics of the website, but here is one general direction: Assignment submissions: All assignments have
to be submitted online.
We recommend you make a document with your assignments
Sometimes you will be asked to 'cut and paste' contributions or assignments. We strongly recommend you
to write all your contributions in a document on your computer first. This way, if your contribution gets lost,
you still have it yourself and it is not lost 'somewhere in cyberspace'. This also is a good way to gather
your own contributions for yourself.
Looking forward to an interesting course and your participation!
Best regards,
The course team.
North South Centre and The Network University