The School of Teaching and Education (Ecole Supérieure du Professorat et de l’Education - ESPE) of Aix-Marseille University just obtained the renewal of the UNESCO Chair “Science and technology education and teacher training” for the period 2017 to 2021.
The UNESCO Chair was established in June 2012, on the basis of an agreement between the Higher Institute for technical and professional teacher training (Ecole Normale Supérieure d’Enseignement Technique et Professionnel - ENSETP) of Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar, Senegal and the ESPE of Aix-Marseille University, and aims at promoting in Europe and Africa an integrated system of research activities, training and continuous improvement of teacher training in the fields of science and technology.
Thanks to an extensive network of international partners and under the co-direction of Jacques Ginestié, Director of the ESPE of Aix-Marseille University and Saliou Diouf, Director of the ENSETP of Cheikh Anta Diop University, the Chair carried out numerous activities, such as the organisation of conferences, seminars, teacher and student mobilities and degree trainings, which have enabled:
- the development of teacher training in the fields of science and technology education through the Erasmus Mundus project “Science and Technology Education Teachers Training International Network” (STETTIN);
- the cooperation between researchers and higher education institutions, notably in the framework of the RAIFFET (African network of TVET teacher training institutions) and the RIFFEF (international francophone network of trainers training institutions) as well as joint publications;
- the development of an international academic network focused on teacher training in the fields of science and technology education.
The renewal of the Chair proves the quality of the work completed. The ESPE of Aix-Marseille University, the ENSETP of Cheikh Anta Diop University and their partners will have the opportunity to take that work forward, over the four coming years.