250338 Education in Different Countries: A Comparative Perspective/ Bildung und Erziehung in unterschiedlichen Ländern – eine vergleichende Betrachtung (S) (SoSe 2019)

This course will be held bilingually in English and in German in a Co-Teaching setting with two docents coming from Canada and Germany. It aims to introduce the field of international and comparative education as well as international teaching to students at the undergraduate level. As a lead-in, there is a brief overview of international relations theories in general and also systematic reflections about general characteristics of education and school take place. Knowledge of the functionality of national systems is important in any discussion of comparative education. It is highly significant in the sense that knowing something of the political, cultural, social and historical antecedents of contemporary education systems helps contextualize them in their current environment. Additionally, theoretical perspectives and the philosophical ideas that education is based on are crucial in widening this understanding. Preceding from these reflections, the course looks specifically at national education systems in different regions of the world. Of particular attention are states in North America and Europe such as Canada. The Canadian education system is examined in detail and reference is made, for example, to the federal system of government and education, as well as critical issues such as the historical system of residential schools for First Nations peoples in Canada and their impact on contemporary First Nations education. Within the course students learn and reflect about educational systems in different countries through a variety of means including bilingual class discussion, as well as directed readings of texts in both languages and short presentations of the reading results either in English or in German.
Regarding the competencies, the students should achieve, they initially gain an understanding of and should briefly be able to explain the role the modern international system plays in relation to national education systems. Moreover, students acquire a knowledge of the international laws, structures of governance, conflict, and human rights issues as they impact on national education systems. Building on this, students assess the ways in which a comparative perspective on national school systems can be achieved. Following on this, students gain knowledge of educational systems in different global regions. Penultimately, students develop an understanding of some of the challenges different national and local school systems face in specific regional contexts.

Please note that Prof. John Allisons stay at Bielefeld University is mainly financed by the International Guest Docent Program and also in parts by the Faculty of Educational Science.

In dieser Veranstaltung findet ein Platzvergabeverfahren statt. Bitte informieren Sie sich hier über den Ablauf: http://www.uni-bielefeld.de/erziehungswissenschaft/bie/faq.html