ROK - AUS (VICTORIA) TEACHER EXCHANGE PROGRAM Teaching Abroad for Global Competency

Program Information

Developing the expertise and professional capabilities of principals and teachers to deliver quality education for all children and young people, and lead improvement in outcomes is a strong focus of the education reform agenda. This includes supporting professional learning opportunities that build the capacity of emerging and aspiring leaders.

The Department of Education and Training (DET) has entered into a partnership with the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Korea (MOE) to facilitate a reciprocal exchange program.

The Teaching Abroad for Global Competency Program aims to promote mutual understanding among participating countries through the exchange of teachers and to provide participating teachers and schools with opportunities to teach abroad and network with foreign schools.

This program is hosted by the MOE, Republic of Korea (ROK) who has designated the Asia-Pacific Centre of Education for International Understanding (APCEIU), under the auspices of UNESCO as the implementing agency for this Teacher Exchange Programme.

The Republic of Korea - Australia (Victoria) Teacher Exchange Program aims to:

Foster teachers’ professional development through sharing of good practices of teaching, curriculum and school activities

Enhance teachers’ cross-cultural communication skills and promote education for international understanding

Promote mutual understanding between the two countries

Build the foundation for school-to-school partnership for future collaboration

Main Features of the Programme

The program is a three-week exchange of teachers between the ROK and Victoria.

The main program components are as follows:

A ‘visiting Korean teacher’ will be placed at a ‘host’ school where s/he will be partnered with a ‘mentor teacher’, who (preferably) will exchange to the Republic of Korea in return.

At the host school, the ROK teacher will have on-site experience through active participation in school activities, including teaching and co-teaching sessions, and observation/participation of school curriculum/activity development, teachers’ meetings, and various school events.

It is desirable that throughout the stay, those visiting teachers work with the mentor teacher to explore opportunities for ongoing collaboration on areas of mutual interest.

The ROK teachers will participate in an orientation program prior to their school placement. Victorian ‘mentor’ teachers will be invited to participate in selected sessions of the orientation program.

A shared learning workshop to enable discussions about learnings from the program will be held on completion of the school placement. Victorian mentor teachers will be encouraged to participate in this workshop.

Exchange Period

The dates of each exchange period will be agreed by mutual negotiation between ROK- Ministry of Education and Department of Education and Training but in all instances the Program will involve a reciprocal, but not simultaneous exchange.

ROK teachers will visit to Victoria for three weeks and Victorian teachers will visit the ROK for three weeks.

Responsibilities

The International Education Division of DET will:

Arrange airport pick-up for ROK teachers

Manage ROK teachers check-in to the selected accommodation for Orientation Program.

Arrange orientation training for the ROK teachers.

Identify exchange schools and manage the relationship with the schools.

Allocate ROK teachers to schools as appropriate.

Provide a program of workshops and briefings on the Victorian education system for ROK teachers prior to placement in their allocated Victorian school.

Arrange reflection and evaluation sessions for ROK and Victorian teachers on the last day of the program in Australia.

Provide an ongoing point of liaison to assist schools and teachers in all aspects of the Program in Australia.

The Principal and Victorian host school will:

Develop an appropriate school–based program for the ROK exchange teacher. This should include classroom observations, co-teaching, participation in relevant school meetings and workshops and where possible visits to other local schools.

Ensure the visiting Korean teacher is provided with suitable homestay accommodation for the duration of their school placement. Ideally this will be a home stay with the Victorian partner teacher.

Release the partnering Victorian teacher for exchange period

Ensure that the exchange teacher does not teach unsupervised.

Oversee the welfare of the Korean exchange teacher during the placement and respond in a timely manner if any issues arise.

Ensure that the Korean exchange teacher is provided with a school-based orientation and induction upon arrival.

Ensure that the exchange teacher is included in any appropriate school based or local professional learning opportunities.

Pick up the Korean exchange teacher at the beginning of the homestay component of the Program and drop off on completion.

The Victorian exchange partner teacher will:

Monitor the welfare of the exchange teacher and respond in a timely manner if any issues arise.

Liaise directly with the exchange teacher before arrival in Victoria, to provide them with information about the school(s) and the broader community.

Attend the Program orientation when invited.

Liaise with the exchange teacher to develop a timetable outlining the classes in which they will participate.

Identify professional learning opportunities that may benefit the exchange teacher within the school.

Ensure that there are opportunities for the exchange teacher to integrate into the broader school community (e.g. invitations to functions and excursions outside the normally scheduled activities.)

Role of the Korean exchange teacher

The exchange teacher should never teach unsupervised or assume responsibility for any classroom program.

The exchange teacher can provide support by;

Working with individual or small groups of students.

Team-teaching alongside the classroom teacher.

Contributing to curriculum and lesson planning.

Facilitating class lessons in line with Program requirements.

Orientation Program

The Department/or its nominated service provider will provide an orientation program for the ROK exchange teacher to prepare them to undertake their placement in their host school.

The orientation will take place at the beginning of the exchange period.
The Victorian partner teacher may be invited to attend some sessions during the orientation program.

At the end of the orientation, the partner Victorian teacher will need to transport the exchange teacher to their homestay accommodation.

Shared Learning Workshop

On completion of the school placement all teachers involved in the Program will be invited to participate in a shared learning workshop to be held at in Melbourne. This workshop will provide an opportunity to reflect on the learnings from the Program. All Victorian teachers are encouraged to attend.

Homestay Guidelines

To participate in the ROK - AUS (VIC) Teacher Exchange Program the Victorian school/partner teacher are asked to provide accommodation and meals for the exchange teacher for the duration of their school placement. (Homestay is full board accommodation offered by a family, couple or single person.)

For our ROK exchange teachers, arriving in a new country may be a challenging experience. Victorian partner teachers play an important role in providing a supportive, home environment during the exchange teacher’s stay in Victoria. Partner teachers are encouraged to assist the exchange teacher’s cultural adjustment and support their community and social integration.

The homestay experience is an excellent way for the visiting teacher to learn more about Australian culture and make the most of their international experience. It is essential that the homestay accommodation arranged by the school/partner teacher is of good quality and provides a safe, comfortable and caring environment.

Where possible the visiting teacher should be accommodated with the partner Victorian teacher. Where this is not possible the principal/partner teacher should arrange a suitable homestay and notify DET of this arrangement. Other options for homestay include another member of staff, or family from the school community. Assistance from the Department is available for schools having difficulty meeting this requirement.

Reciprocal Exchange for Victorian Partner teacher to ROK

The Victorian partner teacher will:

Arrange all travel in line with the Department of Education and Training’s International and Domestic Travel Policy and Guidelines for School Based Staff.

A copy of these guidelines is available at http://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/principals/spag/management/Documents/Travelguidelinesschoolstaff.pdf

Gain approval of travel by the correct authority as designated in International and Domestic Travel Policy and Guidelines for School Based Staff.

Ensure they have a valid passport and the necessary visa to enable them to travel to the Republic of Korea.

Establish their status and coverage with Medicare while overseas and ensure they have appropriate travel and medical insurance prior to travel.

Continue to be paid by DET while on exchange and will retain their entitlement to Workcover

Ensure they have appropriate personal insurance to cover any theft, loss or damage to their notebook computer while traveling. (Notebook computers are not covered by insurance outside Australia)

Ensure they have provided their schools with all current relevant personal details- including contact numbers for next of kin and any relevant powers of attorney

Inform their host school of any relevant information about medical conditions relating to the exchange.

The Overseas Travel Risk Management Guidelines are designed to assist with making informed decisions about travel safety and risks whilst planning for and travelling overseas.

These Guidelines can be viewed at: https://edugate.eduweb.vic.gov.au/Services/Policies/RiskManagement/Documents/Overseas%20Travel%20Risk%20Management%20Guidelines.pdf

Financial Arrangements

International travel costs of participating teachers will be covered by the participant. Whether a school contributes to the cost of travel will be a local decision. Where this occurs it is expected that funds should be from the professional learning budget.

In ROK, for the visiting Victorian teachers, accommodation would be arranged and provided through the hosting schools. Additionally, the ROK Ministry of Education will provide a stipend directly to Victorian teachers, for meals and local transportation expenses.

Department of Education and Training Contacts.

The ROK - AUS (VIC) Teacher Exchange Program is coordinated by the International Relations Unit of the DET. For more information about the Program contact Marg Orme at orme.margaret.a@edumail.vic.gov.au or by phone to 9637 3476.