Denmark: UCL, Teacher Education (ucl.dk) Kenya: Murang'a Teacher Training College (murangattc.ac.ke)

GLAD is a programme involving teacher cooperation between Kenya and Denmark, focusing on teacher training education in Denmark and the existing teacher education structures in Kenya.

GLAD – "Global Learning – Advanced professionalism – Dialogue" – is a development programme in conjunction with teacher training education in Denmark. The main aim of the project is to strengthen future teachers' skills in global learning, communication and information, in cooperation with two teacher training colleges in Kenya, with the possibility of including more in the future. The project is supported by Danida and runs over a four-year period (2014–2018).

The purpose of the GLAD programme is to develop knowledge about developing countries and intercultural pedagogy and didactics within teacher training education. This is achieved, among other things, by working with a developing country and by strengthening trainee teachers' intercultural skills.

The main aims of the GLAD programme

• Professional development

Both within individual subjects (e.g. geography, mathematics, performing arts, English, religious studies and social studies) and in basic professionalism.

• Pedagogy and didactic theory

Combined with practice (advanced modules).

• Conveying and communicating

Global themes based on experience from visiting developing countries, and communication with students and teachers in developing countries.

• Global perspectives

Topics such as sustainability, healthcare, climate and more.

• Work placement and exchange

With a global view, where both students and teachers visit a developing country – in this case Kenya, where the two teacher training colleges are located.

• Cooperation with local public schools

Holluf Pile School and Hunderupskolen, both in Odense, cooperate with primary schools in Kenya: Murang'a College Primary School in Murang'a and Nyeri Good Shepherd Academy in Nyeri.

• Active use of IT

Media such as Skype, Dropbox, Google Drive and Facebook blog dialogues have been included in the process.

In addition, the programme includes cultural studies and mutual exchanges, for example in connection with work placements. Students can use their experience and knowledge from the project in their final Bachelor project as well as in profession projects (1st–3rd year students).

The Department of Teacher Education at UCL (international.ucl.dk) will, through the GLAD programme, support the development of teachers with the professional skills and strengths to work with and convey global topics in a more authentic, dialogue-based way – while they are still in training.