RMIT and Indonesian universities work together on teacher training

The work is being funded by the Australia-Indonesia Institute, part of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

RMIT’s School of Education will be working with Dr Arita Marini and Dr Sofia Hartati, Dean of the Faculty of Education at Universitas Negeri Jakarta, and Dr Urip Sulistiyo and Professor Muhammad Rusdi, Dean of the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education at Jambi University Sumatara.

Professor Heather Fehring said the School of Education was involved in a Teaching Academies of Professional Practice (TAPP) initiative through the Victorian Department of Education and Training.

“The academy model involves working with a cluster of schools in the northern suburbs of Melbourne to provide an innovative on-site learning approach for pre-service teachers.

“Universitas Negeri Jakarta and Jambi University Sumatara staff will work with School of Education staff and visit our cluster schools to learn about the practical implementation of the TAPP model and how it might be adapted for Indonesian universities specialising in teacher education.

“This exchange of ideas and practices will strengthen the professional development of teachers in Indonesia through stronger school-university partnerships,” Fehring said.

The key objectives of the TAPP program are to:

•   Improve initial teacher education and the capacity of pre-service teachers to enter the profession

•   Immerse pre-service teachers in school environments, enabling them to exhibit leading professional practice, and better integrate theory with practice

•   Increase the capacity of schools to provide effective practicum to pre-service teachers

Story: David Glanz