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Working in collaboration across the region
The main emphasis for the work of the Association
since September 2003 has been on collaboration - with LEAs, schools,
individual teachers and a range of organisations and other networks
from across the region. The five Strategy Groups, which carry
out the main tasks of the organisation, have begun to work on
a new set of objectives. These groups are themselves collaborative,
typically including workers from Development Education Centres,
LEA advisers and representatives of other organisations with an
interest in global education.
The YHGSA has also begun new working relationships
with a number of other organisations. For example the Association
is in the process of developing a training programme for the region’s
Schools Library Services and has also worked jointly with JusBiz
to deliver a ‘training the trainers’ session focussed
on Fair Trade and ethical business practices.
The Association must also be responsive to national
initiatives and governmental policies which concern the global
dimension, especially at a time when there is a resurgence of
interest in global matters and a real enthusiasm to see these
explored in the curriculum. In this connection the Association
is working with regional groups for both sustainable development
and science education. These collaborations will chiefly impact
on schools and teachers through the provision of new professional
development opportunities aimed at helping teachers to add or
reinforce a global dimension to their work.
These are particularly timely initiatives given
that the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, Charles
Clarke, has recently launched the Sustainable Development Action
Plan which brings together plans for learning about sustainable
development and the international and global dimensions within
education. In his foreword the Secretary of State says:
‘I believe that the DfES has a duty to
ensure that people who are engaged in learning are given the opportunities
and inspiration to think about their role as world citizens’.
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