Introduction
International collaboration is one of the most powerful tools for creating a more harmonious world. It is an opportunity for students from different backgrounds to come together and share their cultures, learn from each other, and form meaningful connections.
The Peace Attitude School is committed to providing a global education and empowering its students to become globally aware and critically thoughtful citizens. Through initiatives like international school collaborations, storytelling, and video conferencing, The Peace Attitude School has been able to create an international learning environment for its students where meaningful conversations, greater understanding, and deeper appreciation can take place.
One of the most impactful collaborations that the school has developed is a partnership with International School Maximilian, Skopje, North Macedonia. Through this partnership, students from both schools have been able to video conference, share their experiences,
and learn from each other. This bridge between two schools located in vastly different parts of the world has enabled meaningful conversations and greater understanding.
In 2021, TPAS and ISM joined forces to offer their students the chance to bridge communities across the globe. Through collaborative activities and events, students had the opportunity to explore different cultures and ideas. With the help of technology, international students were able to communicate with each other in a safe space, exchanging stories, opinions, and ideas.
In this article we will explain how international school collaboration can help enhance global understanding among students of all ages. We will also share some tips on how to create your own interactive global learning experience.
The Need for Global Citizenship
Our students must be ready to interact with people from different cultural backgrounds, an integral part of global citizenship. By engaging in conversations and interacting with students from International School Maximilian, TPAS plans to provide unique opportunities to their students.
Through this collaboration, students will learn and understand what it means to be a global citizen. They will gain insight into different cultures, develop new perspectives, and even learn about different beliefs, customs and traditions. This will help them foster an appreciation for diversity and build mutual respect among people from all walks of life.
Moreover, by forming relationships with others in this way, our students can begin to identify with others despite cultural differences, promote global understanding and create a more harmonious world. This collaboration presents an invaluable opportunity for our
students to practice what it means to be a global citizen while gaining key skills in communication and collaboration across cultural beliefs and customs.
TPAS & ISM’s Collaboration
In the intertwined nature of the globalized world, TPAS wanted to create a platform to foster sustained collaboration and trust between the two communities. To do so, we partnered with International School Maximilian to provide our students with a fantastic
opportunity to engage in conversations and interact with students of different backgrounds. Together we organized some activities that let our respective student bodies get acquainted. Each school hosted meetings and online seminars where students discussed topics ranging from environmental science to digital literacy compellingly and engagingly. We also planned contests and challenges, including identifying cultural differences through cinema and writing essays on various world issues.
Most notably, the two schools set up bi-annual virtual exchange programs, where students connect to discuss various topics in real time over video chat. Through these interactive sessions, our students can gain insight into the lives and experiences of those living across oceans, continents, and cultures by simply conversing with each other.
These initiatives highlight the vitality of connecting communities from diverse backgrounds to foster an understanding between them. Through these activities, our students gained invaluable insights into different cultures and perspectives, making them globally aware
citizens and leaders for tomorrow.
Engaging Students in Intercultural Interaction
By partnering with ISM, TPAS opened up a whole new world of opportunities for its students to engage in intercultural exchange. Through this collaboration, TPAS and ISM exchanged student videos and blog posts, letting them interact with each other to gain insight into their worlds.
The two schools also plan to organize joint events, like a simulated United Nations conference where students from both schools can discuss global projects such as ending extreme poverty or hunger. Through discussions like these, students will learn about different cultural norms and values. In addition, TPAS will host an International Day at its campus where ISM students will virtually participate in activities to learn more about the cultures of their peers.
Through this collaboration, TPAS and ISM have allowed their students to participate in meaningful cross-cultural conversations and experiences that will shape their outlook on the world for years.
Benefits of International School Collaboration
By working with ISM, TPAS is providing their students with incredible opportunities to engage with one another. This collaboration has long-term benefits for everyone involved.
Here are some of the main benefits of international school collaborations:
1. Intercultural understanding: Working with another school provides students with the
opportunity to expand their knowledge about an unknown world, break down
stereotypes, and develop a broader understanding of the world.
2. Increase in knowledge and skills: By collaborating on projects or attending events (virtually), students learn valuable skills such as communication, teamwork, self- management, thinking skills, problem-solving and organization.
3. Shared resources: Schools can share resources such as books, technology and knowledge that they might otherwise not have access to.
4. Stronger academic performance: Collaboration provides an opportunity for teachers to compare different approaches to teaching and learning which can lead to improved student performance overall.
5. Sense of pride and ownership: Working together on projects gives students a sense of ownership over their work, as well as a greater pride in achieving successful outcomes together that benefit the wider community.
Ultimately, international school collaborations provide a platform for global understanding that can help us build bridges between communities and cultures all over the world!
How to Foster Global Citizenship at Home
Fostering global citizenship at home can start with simple practices like exchanging cultural stories, discovering recipes, or writing letters. But no matter what you do—the important thing is to open up conversations and create an engaged learning environment.
TPAS and ISM understand the great potential for growth in intercultural understanding, which is why they decided to collaborate. This collaboration seeks to provide students with opportunities to explore other cultures through a variety of experiences. Some of the
significant ways TPAS and ISM plan to bridge communities include:
• Exchange programs: TPAS and ISM are planning exchange programs that involve online visits from students from each school. This will allow them to learn about one another.
• Joint projects: Students from both schools will work together on joint projects in the areas of science, art, music, language, or sports.
• International field trips: Students visit each other’s countries virtually as part of their education experiences.
• Joint activities and events: Such as hosting celebrations or participating in international competitions that showcase their combined talents.
• Intercultural dialog workshops: To help students engage in critical conversations around cultural differences and similarities, share insights into different societies, and develop greater understanding of global perspectives.
TPAS & ISM’s Future Global Projects
TPAS and ISM are committed to continuing their global efforts by engaging in meaningful projects that will leave a lasting positive impact on our students and communities.
Some of these projects include:
Collaborative Curriculum Development
Working together, TPAS and ISM are developing a shared curriculum that encourages thinking outside the box and tries to bridge the gaps between students while inspiring innovative ideas. The curriculum focuses on research-based learning, critical thinking, and
creative problem-solving that can be adapted internationally.
Global Video Conferences
TPAS and ISM are planning on conducting video conferences to enable the students to interact with each other, no matter what language or ccountry they come from. With these global conferences, we hope to foster greater understanding of different aspects of human race while encouraging collaboration in the development of cutting-edge solutions for meaningful global issues.
Conclusion
Bridging communities together can be done through international school collaboration. Through these collaborations, TPAS and ISM students have had the opportunity to take part in conversations, interact with peers from completely different worlds and become a part of a global community. By promoting intercultural understanding and international mindedness, we can work together to create a more harmonious world. By taking part in these programs, students have developed important knowledge and skills, such as global
citizenship and caring for individuals, which can be used to help build a better future.
Saira Bano aka Mother Bano
Founder/International Education Consultant
PYP Coordinator TPAS
