Aims of the UNESCO Chair Project

• To promote an integrated system of research, training, information and documentation activities in the field of teacher education linked to culture.

Fields/Discipline

• Teacher Education. Culture. Education;

Associated Network

• UNITWIN/UNESCO CHAIR PROGRAMME

UNESCO Sector

• Education

Project Background

USP has had a major role to play in the preparation of teachers for its 12 member countries since the university’s inception in 1968; indeed the School of Education was established to carry out this function particularly in relation to the education and training of teachers for junior and senior secondary schools.

Since then the task of training teachers for junior high schools has been assumed by various national institutions a development the university has welcomed and encouraged over the years, through networking and a process of cross accreditation of courses and programs towards its own degree programs. Today the USP continue to prepare teachers for all levels of formal education from Early Childhood to Tertiary.

Apart from teacher education, the university through the School of Education and the Institute of Education, provides other services to the region which are directly or indirectly related to teacher preparation and development, such as educational administration, educational assessment and evaluation, curriculum development, counseling, basic education and literacy,etc.

Project Objectives

1. To create an awareness of the important link between education and culture particularly in the area of teacher education.
2. To establish a network of Pacific teacher educators who would work towards improving the quality of teacher education in the region
3. To develop structures and programmes whereby departments, sections, schools and Ministries of Education in the region would agree to participate in appropriate cooperative activities aimed at enhancing knowledge and understanding of Pacific cultures as well as teacher education
4. To enhance links among tertiary institutions especially teacher training colleges in the region.

Expected Outcomes

1. Improved awareness among teacher trainees and future teacher educators, curriculum developers and educational administrators and others of the link between education and culture, particularly in teaching and learning
2. Research and Publications in the area of culture and education
3. Enhanced staff development in teacher education institutions
4. Establishing and enhancing networks within the region and beyond in the area of teacher education and culture.

Types of Activities

1. Teaching ( undergraduate and post-graduate courses)
2. Research and Publication– in the area of culture and education
3. Institutional networking and collaboration
4. Scholarship
5. Materials production and information sharing and dissemination

Teaching

Teaching is a vital activity of the Chair as it is through teaching that ideas are communicated to students who are future teachers. Prof Thaman continues to teach undergraduate and postgraduate students in the School of Education. She contributes to several undergraduate courses, including ED253 Ideas and Theories in Education, and ED255, Introduction to Curriculum Development. She is frequently called on to give guest lectures to other courses. She currently coordinates three postgraduate courses: ED451 Culture and Education; ED455 Advanced Curriculum Theory; and, ED461 Global Educational Instruments (including EFA, MDGs, UNDL and DESD).

Besides teaching, Prof Thaman supervises a number of postgraduate students and examines a good number of theses every year. She currently chairs the  School of Education’s Research and Postgraduate Committee, and is a strong advocate of the development of Pacific research and researchers.