‘Teaching the Teachers’ – Integrating the European Union into the VIC Secondary School Curriculum

This workshop for VIC schoolteachers will consider how to integrate European studies and EU issues into the VIC secondary school curriculum.

About this event

This workshop for schoolteachers in Victoria ‘Teaching the Teachers: Integrating the EU into VIC Secondary School Curriculum‘ will review recent socio-political developments in the European Union (EU).

It will provide participants with an opportunity to learn more about the EU’s approach to tackling a broad range of issues, and will provide an opportunity to consider how these issues can be covered in learning and teaching activities, and integrated into the Victoria secondary school curriculum.

This workshop is a one-day intensive program for teachers of:

• History
• Global/International Politics
• Social and Cultural Studies
• Legal Studies
• Economics
• European Languages

This workshop will also provide a unique opportunity to engage with diverse expert speakers on topics that complement secondary school curricula.

Guests Speakers:

• Mr Fedja Zlobec – Counsellor and Deputy Head, Delegation of the European Union to Australia
• Dr Emma Shortis – Research Officer at RMIT University, ABC TV Commentator, Host of the “Barely Getting’ by” podcast
• Dr Perparim (Rimi) Xhaferi – Team Leader at RMIT University, Expert on the politics of ethnicity, race and national identity in the Western Balkan region
• Ms Olivera Nikolovska – Secondary School Teacher, Author : Australian and Global Politics VCE Units 1 & 2 textbook, Global Politics VCE Units 3 & 4 textbook
• Prof Bruno Mascitelli – Hon Prof at RMIT University, Fmr Prof at Swinburne University of Technology, and Fmr President European Studies Association of Australia and New Zealand (ESAANZ)
• Prof Bruce Wilson – Director EU Centre of Excellence at RMIT University
• More speakers TBC

Themes covered:

• A crash course in European institutions: the who, what and where of how the EU operates?
• What does the EU stand for in the contemporary world?
• How does the EU relate to Australia, the US, China, and the UK?
• What is the European Green Deal?
• What will be the post COVID-19 challenges for the EU?
• How can we integrate the EU and European Studies into the Victorian Secondary School Curriculum?

The program will feature interactive sessions with senior academics and practitioners, an interdisciplinary approach, and multiple case studies which can support learning in classroom settings.

Catering will be provided.

This event will follow COVID-safe protocols.

Free but registration is essential.

Places are limited to COVID restrictions so register now.

Background Info:

The EU has set out to reshape itself into a “geopolitical force”. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated she wants to lead a “Geopolitical Commission” with the European Green Deal as the centrepiece of its strategy. Being the largest market in the world with the second highest defence spending, and the world’s largest development-assistance budget, the EU has significant transformative potential.

The EU, however, is limited by the fragmentation of the European power both between and within EU institutions and member states. The challenge of economic recovery from COVID-19 pandemic has shown the need for greater solidarity among European leaders. At the same time, the pandemic provides an opportunity for boosting European integration internally and for implementing a new external geopolitical vision.

Partners:

• European Studies Association of Australia and New Zealand (ESAANZ) *
• European Union Centre of Excellence at RMIT University
• With support from the European Commission.

* Formerly known as the Contemporary European Studies Association of Australia (CESAA)

The project is co-funded by the European Union under the Erasmus + Programme Jean Monnet Activities: Agreement number 619941-EPP-1-2020-1-AU-1-EPPJMO-PROJECT