Teacher study tours

• About the Program
• Application and Selection Process
• Program Partners
• Tour Descriptions
• Curriculum Outcomes
• Teacher Stories
• Evaluation
• Contacts

About the Program

The Asia Education Foundation's (AEF) TICFA Program is a professional development program that aims to provide Australian educators the opportunity to experience first hand the peoples, cultures and issues of the countries of Asia and to enhance skills and discipline knowledge of the studies of Asia.

The TICFA program includes in-country study tour programs annually of two to three week's duration to China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Thailand and Vietnam. Each tour provides participants with a range of contemporary experiences of the study tour country.

Whilst in country, participants have the opportunity to establish contacts, gain awareness of contemporary issues, visit cultural and historical sites and teach in local schools. Some programs include a homestay with a local family (see the tour descriptions for further information on each program).

On return to Australia, participants further research their topics of interest and integrate the curriculum learnings they have gained from the program into their classroom and school community.

Each study tour includes up to twenty-two educators representing a range of Australian states and territories. In addition, the AEF provides tour leaders to prepare participants for their in-country experience and accompany the group. Tour leaders are appointed for their knowledge of the study tour country, experience in organising study tours of this nature and having a background and or knowledge of Australian education.

The TICFA program is open to all educators and curriculum writers who are Australia citizens or have permanent residency status in Australia. Applicants must be employed within a school and should contact their relevant education jurisdiction within their state and territory (see below) for an application form.

Application and Selection Process

State, Catholic and Independent education jurisdictions in all Australian states and territories join the AEF in supporting participation of Australian educators in the TICFA program. New Zealand educators are supported by the Asia 2000 Foundation of New Zealand.

The TICFA program is advertised by education jurisdictions in about May to June of each year. Educators interested in participating in the TICFA program are encouraged to contact the relevant person in their state/ territory at this time for an application form and application information. For a full list of the education jurisdictions participating in the TICFA program, click here and take a look at the State/Territory Education Jurisdiction contact list. (PDF file)

A selection committee is appointed by the relevant education jurisdiction for the selection of participants. Applicants must obtain support from their school to ensure that the learnings from the study tour are disseminated as widely as possible within and between school communities.

Applicants must demonstrate an ability to integrate a unit of work into their curriculum, effect curriculum change in their school/ network; work as a member of a team to disseminate their learnings from the program; develop a resource and or present at professional development activities.

For further information on the TICFA program take a look at the 2002-2003 Application Information which provides a useful guide to the expectations and application criteria for prospective participants. (PDF file)

Program Partners

The TICFA program is a partnership between education sectors, participants, corporate and philanthropic sponsors, the AEF and government agencies in Australia and Asia. Partners contribute funding and or in-kind support to ensure the quality and implementation of the program. The TICFA program would like to acknowledge the following program partners:

Government Agencies
	Australia-India Council Australia-Indonesia Institute Australia Korea Foundation Australian Education International, India Osaka Sister City Netwrok, Japan Simao Education Commission, PR China
Corporate and Philanthropic
	Asia 2000 Foundation of New Zealand Chungbuk National University, Republic Korea Osaka Sister City Network, Japan Simao Education Commission, PR China
Education Departments
	Department of Education & Community Services, ACT Department of Education & Training, NSW NT School of Languages Education Queensland Department of Education, Training & Employment, SA Tasmanian Educational Leaders' Institute Department of Education, Employment and Training, VIC Education Department of WA
Catholic/Independent Education Jurisdictions
	Association of Independent Schools of ACT Association of Independent Schools of NSW Association of Independent Schools, QLD The Association of Independent Schools of South Australia Association of Independent Schools Tasmania Association of Independent Schools of Victoria Association of Independent Schools WA Catholic Education Office, Diocese of Bathurst Catholic Education Office, Archdiocese of Brisbane Catholic Education Office, Diocese of Broken Bay Catholic Education Office, Canberra & Goulburn Catholic Education Office, Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools Office, Maitland-Newcastle Catholic Education Office, Diocese of Parramatta Catholic Education Office, Sydney Catholic Education Office, Tasmania Catholic Education Office, Victoria Catholic Education Office, WA Catholic Education Office, Diocese of Wilcannia/ Forbes Catholic Education Office, Diocese of Wollongong

For a full list of the education jurisdictions participating in the TICFA program, take a look at the State/Territory Education Jurisdiction contact list. (PF file)

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Tour Descriptions

Further information on the 2002-2003 study tour programs including a detailed tour description, names of tour leaders, program outline and tour dates are available via the links below.

• China Study Tour
• India Study Tour
• Indonesia Study Tour
• Japan Study Tour
• Korea Study Tour
• Korean Studies Workshop Program
• Thailand Study Tour
• Vietnam Study Tour

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Curriculum Outcomes

The TICFA program has included over 64 study tours to China, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, The Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam since the programs inception in 1993. Wide ranges of curriculum projects, resources and dissemination activities have been produced as a result of participation.

A snapshot of curriculum outcomes from the 2001-2002 participants include:

• Students demonstrated their learning about Vietnam by 'Putting the Pieces Together' - a collage of material depicting students views of Vietnam
• Year 10 Asian Studies unit included an overview of Indian culture covering issues of human rights, population growth and environment
• Series of workshops related to Korea presented as part of the Australian Geography Teachers Association National Conference in 2002 - workshop topics included 'Cultural Integration in Modern Korea' and 'Geographical Perspectives on Economic Development'
• Art and craft design curriculum in the area of fabric design, printing and architecture in Thailand
• Incorporated aspects of learning about China into the schools personal relationship program, allowing students to look at values, goals, aspirations, friendships and communication
• Compared Japan and Australia through national identities and images that depict the values of both countries
• Worked with other participants to write a school based action plan for the implementation of Asian perspectives into the key learning areas of the schools curriculum
• Students made a Balinese head dress through the Art department for the schools drama production
• A unit that draws on visual and textual sources relating to Vietnam to explore themes such as communism, nationalism, patriotism, the influence of France and China, Confucian values, regional and ethnic diversity and the place of learning
• Unit on Hindu mythology as part of a Year 7 curriculum
• Year 12 economic students studied the Korean economy and its relationship to the Australian economy
• Organised a parent dinner at a local Thai restaurant
• Case study with Year 12 Society and Culture class focusing on the changing role and status of women in China
• Unit on woodblock printing - linking to the Australian National Gallery "Monet and Japan" exhibition
• Engaged whole school community in fundraisers for victims of Indian Earthquake
• Used in-country experience to complete a Masters of Education with a major in the Studies of Asia

Download a full copy of the TICFA Curriculum Outcomes brochure
(PDF file)

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Teacher Stories

The TICFA program has involved over 960 teachers and curriculum writers undertaking study programs in Asia. Stories from past participants of the TICFA program are available via the links below.

Across the Bridge (China 2001)
	by Sue Nuttall, St John's Primary School, NSW
Crossing the River, Feeling for Stones (China 1999)
	by Jill Wilson, Gilmore College for Girls, VIC
Take a TICFA Tour (China 1996)
	by Sara Martin, Royal Children's Hospital School, VIC
Indian teachers look at our ways of schooling (India 2001)
	Article from UNINEWS, Vol 10 No.21, 25 June 2001
Education India (India 2000)
	by Janine Chin, Asia 2000 Foundation of New Zealand
Aim for the moon: if you miss, you will fall among the stars (India 1999)
	by David Keen, Dunedin College of Education, New Zealand
From Folktales to Fact Files (Indonesia 1998)
	by Helen Agostino, Weetangera Primary School, ACT
Dear Corine (Japan 1999)
	by Therese Gorter, Gordon Primary School, ACT
Connecting with Korea (Korea 1998)
	By Peter Batty, St Mary's College, SA
School principals play a pivotal role in improving student learning (Korean Studies Workshop Program 2001)
	by Susan Boucher, Australian Principals Professional Development Council
Land of the Morning Calm (Korean Studies Workshop Program 1998)
	by Lee Grafton, Department of Education, Training & Employment, SA
Changing Attitudes (Thailand 1999)
	by Sue Hall, Bibra Lake Primary School, WA
Hidden Tales (Thailand 1998)
	by Samantha Ellis, Dundas Public School, NSW and Karen Pick, St Joseph's School, SA
Putting the Pieces Together (Vietnam 2001)
	by Judith Hearne, Liwara Catholic School, TAS
Impressions and Insights (Vietnam 1998)
	by Phillip Jones, Duval High School, NSW

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Evaluation

Encountering Cultures: The Impact of Study Tours to Asia on Australian Teachers and Teaching Practice is an evaluation report conducted by Dr Christine Halse, University of Western Sydney, in 1999.

The report is a phenomenographic study of teachers' learning during short-term study tours to Asian countries, and the impact of their learning experiences on teachers' identity and teaching practice in Australian schools. The final report is a qualitative analysis based on in-depth interviews with nine teachers from across Australia who participated in the Teacher In-Country Fellowships to Asia (TICFA) program led by the Asia Education Foundation (AEF) during 1998. The interviews were conducted at three points over a twelve-month period: shortly before the study tours, immediately after the teachers' return, and approximately eight months after the tours.

Download a full copy of the Encountering Cultures evaluation report
(PDF file)

Download the Free Acrobat Reader

Contacts

Further information on the TICFA program is available from:

Ms Kristi Sheldon, Manager, In-Country Programs
k.sheldon@asialink.unimelb.edu.au

Mr Aaron O'Shannessy, Project Officer, In-County Programs
a.oshannessy@asialink.unimelb.edu.au

Asia Education Foundation
Sidney Myer Asia Centre
The University of Melbourne
Parkville Victoria 3010 Australia
Telephone 03 8344 4800
Facsimile 03 9347 1768