The Influence of a Tempus Project DOIT on University Research and Development Lia Akhaladze, Tamar Jojua, Tamar Shinjiashvili Rusudan Pipia - S okhumi State University, Georgia Rhonda Sofer – Gordon Academic College, Israel The European Conference on Education Brighton, UK July 11, 2013

Our presentation shows the impact of the TEMPUS program DOIT “Development of an International Model for Curricular Reform in Multicultural Education and Cultural Diversity Training” on curriculum development, reform and research at Sokhumi State University.

Curricular reform in multicultural education for teacher-training through A PROGRAM THAT IS A RESULT OF the sharing of knowledge relating to the dynamic processes of Multicultural Education and Cultural Diversity Training among professionals involved in education. Main Objective:

 Develop innovative courses through international teams.  Develop out of the classroom activities that promote inter-cultural relations.  Publish new learning materials  Test the pilot program in partner countries.  Run faculty workshops that train faculty implement the courses.  Integrate curricular reform in the participating institutions.  Promote curricular reform on the National level. PROGRAM

The International DOIT Team

16 Academic Institutions: 6 in Israel, 5 in Georgia and 5 in the EU countries. 4 NGOs: 1 in Israel, 2 in Georgia and 1 in Estonia. 6 Student Unions: 3 in Israel and 3 in Georgia Working with 26 Institutions: 21 Official Members of DOIT with 5 additional Groups

Israeli HEIs: Gordon Academic College of Education Sachnin Academic College Kaye Academic College of Education Interdisciplinary Center of Hertzilya Sapir Academic College Ben Gurion University of the Negev – Israeli NGO: Interfaith Encounter Association – Student Unions of GCE, SAC, IDC. Quality of Consortium:

1.Ilia State University 2.Tbilisi State University 3.Sokhumi State University 4.Telavi State University 5.Samtskhe-Javakheti State Teaching College ( unified Akhaltsikhe State Teaching University and Akhalkalaki Higher Educational Institution College) 6.Civic Development Institute 7.Center for Civil Integration and Inter-Ethnic Relations 8.Student unions of ISU, TELAVI, SJSTU Georgian Partners

University of Koblenz-Landau, Germany Institute of Education, University of London, United Kingdom Birkbeck College, United Kingdom University of Education in Upper-Austria Hogeschool van Arnhem, The Netherlands Jaan Tonisson Institute, Estonia European Partners

Sokhumi State University is in two working teams of DOIT: SSU Pedagogical Approaches that Promote Inter- Cultural-Ethnic Understanding in the Classroom Culturally Specific Materials for Georgia

Georgian group - culturally specific materials for Georgia developed several syllabi in the Georgian language, on the base of integration of these syllabi a common syllabus was developed in Georgian and English languages "Multiethnic and Multicultural Georgia”.

Abkhazia -Multiethnic/multicultural region of Georgia Shida Kartli - Multiethnic/multicultural region of Georgia Ethnic composition of modern Georgia

In the second working team - Pedagogical Approaches that Promote Inter-Cultural-Ethnic Understanding in the classroom - Sokhumi team has developed two syllabi. In the second working team - Pedagogical Approaches that Promote Inter-Cultural-Ethnic Understanding in the classroom - Sokhumi team has developed two syllabi. Active citizenship Tamar Shinjiashvili, Rusudan Pipia Perception of Culture and Identity Lia Akhaladze, Tamar Jojua

The both syllabi are created on the basis of the James Bank’s five dimensions: Content Integration The Knowledge Construction Process An Empowering School Culture and Social Structure Prejudice Reduction An Equity Pedagogy

SSU integrated 3 courses in Multicultural Education in one BA course and two MA programs. The programs aim at introducing students to multicultural education theory and practice and strengthen intercultural competences. BA program has successfully passed an educational program accreditation and will be implemented in at the Faculty of Education

The Influence of DOIT on educational programs of SSU Multicultural Education Intercultural Education Teacher Education (primary level )

The Influence of DOIT at SSU is also on Master Level Course: Intercultural Relations Teaching methodology of History History

The course "Intercultural Relations in Abkhazia: History and Modernity" is designed to introduce MA students to historical basics and modern situation of intercultural relations in one of the historical regions of Georgia - in Abkhazia.

The curriculum reform that promotes multicultural education on the Master level has passed the authorization process at the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia. In addition, SSU will be implementing a new program (“minor specialization”) at the bachelor degree level for educational science on Intercultural Relations". This program is being developed by DOIT’s SSU team and Quality Assurance Department at SSU.

In Summary, the Curriculum Reform that will occur at SSU will include the following course from DOIT’s program: Intercultural Education Children’s Rights in and Through Education Multiethnic and Multicultural Georgia Culture and Identity Active Citizenship Communication and Social Media Pedagogical Approaches for intercultural teacher and so on.

In addition DOIT has promoted joint research of the SSU team: The Challenges and Prospects of the EU grant project DOIT - Lia Akhaladze, Tamar Shinjiashvili, Nino Chiabrishvili, David Malazonia, Marine Khubua Holistic Approach to Multicultural Education - Nino Chiabrishvili, David Malazonia, Tamar Shinjiashvili, Lia Akhaladze The Influence of a Tempus Project DOIT on University Research and Development - Lia Akhaladze, Rhonda Sofer, Tamar Jojua, Tamar Shinjiashvili, Rusudan Pipia

As we see, DOIT-'s influence on our university research and development is actual and relevant. We are sure that future effective collaboration with our European and Israeli counterparts will further promote DOIT's goals as well as lead to other collaborative projects.

At this stage of implementation of our project, (8 months have passed), we can say for sure - YES, DOIT has had a positive and successful influence on research and development of our university curriculum!

Thank you for Attention !