Global Citizenship Research Project

Project Member(s): Buchanan, J., Fitzgerald, T.

Funding or Partner Organisation: World Vision Australia

Start year: 2014

Summary: There is currently a lack of research evidence regarding the understanding of development issues by Australian student teachers and their attitudes towards development, citizenship and countries in the Asia-Pacific region. In partnership with UTS, the Global Citizenship Research Project will provide both an overview of Australians' understanding of development issues and an assessment of a tertiary course in development awareness aimed at teacher education students. Using quantitative and qualitative methods, researchers will measure the effectiveness and impact of a semester-long course with a strong development awareness emphasis that will be taught to 200 pre-service primary teachers. Upon conclusion of the course, students teachers will be asked to evaluate the effectiveness of different aspects of the course, and a post-test assessment of their understanding and attitudes will be conducted. The research project will: ¿ identify the Australian public's awareness and understanding of development issues ¿ provide data on effective strategies for improving aid and development awareness ¿ measure the effectiveness of a course for development awareness raising and the changes in the knowledge and attitudes that result from the course ¿ provide valuable information about the effectiveness of tertiary institutions programs for development awareness and global education ¿ provide valuable insights for the ongoing development of global education within both World Vision Australia and AusAID ¿ produce a written report, academic conference presentations, and peer-reviewed articles for education professional development journals ¿ suggest further areas for research that will seek to improve Australians' understanding and awareness of aid and development ¿ generate insights that impact the design of future development education and awareness programs in Australia.

Publications:

Zeivots, S, Buchanan, JD & Pressick-Kilborn, K 2024, 'Pre-service teachers becoming researchers: the role of professional learning groups in creating a community of inquiry', The Australian Educational Researcher, vol. 51, no. 2, pp. 463-480.
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Buchanan, J & Varadharajan, M 2016, '‘Give Me Liberty, or Give Me . . . Nice, New, Shiny Things’: Global Development Aid Education in Australia', Perspectives on Global Development and Technology, vol. 15, no. 3, pp. 319-336.
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Keywords: Global Citizenship, World Vision Australia, development awareness, global education, teacher education,

FOR Codes: International Aid and Development, Syllabus and Curriculum Development, Specialist Studies in Education not elsewhere classified, Teacher and Instructor Development, Teacher Education and Professional Development of Educators, Primary Education (excl. Maori), Primary education, Assessment, development and evaluation of curriculum

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.