Teaching and transcultural learning

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Schools as transcultural environments

The concept of transculturality places less emphasis on the differences between supposedly clearly delineated cultures and instead assumes that the cultural identities of individuals or social groups are formed from a variety of traditions, values, religions and cultural practices. Especially in countries with a high number of immigrants, these blend together to form novel cultural identities.

School, where children from diverse cultural backgrounds come together, is one of the key environments in which cultural identities become diluted and transform. Teachers are affected by the phenomenon of transculturality and, at the same time, have an influence on how it is experienced. For this reason, there is a strong focus on addressing this issue at universities of teacher education.

Academic exchange between teachers and education experts from different countries promotes transcultural competence.

Networking projects involve both students and teaching staff in the exchange.

Flyer transcultural learning

News

StudiesNew opportunities for teachers with refugee backgrounds

So far, teachers with refugee backgrounds have had few opportunities to work in their original profession in Switzerland. The Zurich University of Teacher Education is therefore collaborating with four other Swiss universities to develop measures that support their professional integration.

Expanding HorizonsThe Role of Internationalisation in Teacher Education

On PHZH’s first International Day, over 80 students presented their host universities from their exchange semesters, while Jan Karel Verheij highlighted the benefits and challenges of internationalisation in teacher education.

International Projects in EducationThe importance of changing perspectives: Transcultural learning at the PH Zurich

Learning from and with each other: transcultural competences are necessary for this to work across language and cultural boundaries. But what does transcultural learning actually mean and why is it also relevant for Swiss teachers and students?

PEER-NetTeaching in global exchange

As part of the project PEER-Net, Swiss and foreign universities jointly organise modules that are attended by students from both countries. To mark the start of the first exchange visits, one student from Kosovo and one from Switzerland talk about their experiences so far.