From the Executive Director, Linda Vaughan
In this edition, you will find a range of resources, updates, global learning opportunities for educators and students and highlights from the department's GL&E events.
The end of the year is a great time to consciously reflect on our learnings and celebrate achievements. In 2022, the department successfully delivered a range of programs to enable students to appreciate diverse perspectives and understand the importance of building global connections. Some of these initiatives include, Victorian Global Learning Awards, Global Learning and Engagement Symposium, virtual Victorian Young Leaders Program to India and China, Global Youth Forums, Student Forums, and international delegations. Despite the impact of COVID-19 on the International Student Program, Victoria has maintained its market leader status and we are successfully implementing strategies to recover the pipeline of students.
My warmest wishes to you all for a joyous holiday season!
Multicultural Awards for Excellence – Abbotsford Primary School
Established in 1984, APS is an internationally recognised Chinese/English bilingual school. The school places special emphasis on teaching intercultural capability and celebrating cultural diversity, with a vision for their students to be well-informed and caring global citizens.
APS global engagement program
Since 2020, APS has implemented and developed a global engagement program for students from Years 1 to 6 with opportunities for intercultural encounters to take place throughout the academic year. This has included:
- students in Years 1 and 2 taking part in a pen pal program to build and maintain friendships with Chinese-speaking students in Malaysia and learn to appreciate and normalise the multicultural makeup of each country
- students in Years 3 and 4 learning about the intercultural cycle of learning and using global engagement projects to practise 'interacting,' 'noticing,' 'comparing,' and 'reflecting'
- students in Years 5 and 6 applying and practicing their language with a one-on-one buddy from metropolitan Taichung. Through guided reflections on the interactions, they develop a strong sense of empathy for English learners and share strategies for language learning.
At different year levels, students take part in collaborative activities requiring different levels of independence and language proficiency, fostering intercultural capacity and a global-minded school culture.
'By engaging young learners in intensive language learning and global engagement experiences, we have the best chance of challenging the formation of prejudices, assumptions, and stereotypes, and fostering a mindset characterised by empathy, respect and resolution,' says Stanley Wang, principal, APS.
If your school is interested in sharing its global learning story with us or would like to participate in the department's global learning and engagement programs, please contact us at: ied.stakeholder.engagement@education.vic.gov.au
