GlosDEC

Gloucestershire Development Education Centre

What is GlosDEC?

GlosDEC is based in Cheltenham UK, and provides services for schools and colleges throughout Gloucestershire and surrounding areas.

GlosDEC’s work focuses on ‘developing a global dimension within the school curriculum’*, in order to build a better understanding of local and global issues among teachers, students and school communities. 

The eight key concepts that underpin  GlosDEC’s work are:

*  citizenship    * sustainable development  * interdependence  

* social justice   * values and perceptions    * diversity

* conflict resolution     * human rights

(*Reference: ‘Developing a global dimension within the school curriculum’ - curriculum standards guidance booklet for primary/secondary schools, DfID /DfEE, 2001) 

How does GlosDEC work?

GlosDEC works in partnership with Gloucestershire Local Education Authority and The University of Gloucestershire (UG). This three-way alliance aims to provide professional advice and practical assistance to educators at primary and secondary, through to further and higher education levels.

GlosDEC’s current work focuses on three projects:

* ‘Global-ITE’: working in partnership with UG to support initial teacher education

* ‘Developing Images’: working with the local Hindu community in schools and colleges

* ‘Global Footprints’: working to foster sustainable development in primary schools

In addition, GlosDEC offers a service for schools as part of the UNICEF Education Support Service, and provides a range of resource books and items for school use.

GlosDEC Partnerships

In addition to the local partnerships (Gloucestershire LEA and UG) 

GlosDEC has established working partnerships with communities based in India and Kenya. The aim is to provide meaningful and up-to-date examples that ‘build bridges’ and enable analysis and comparison with the UK environment.

India

In India our partnership now centres on the Kapila khandvala College of Education, affiliated to the University of Mumbai, India.
Our project work in India is coordinated by local educators, Jayashree Inbaraj and Subhalakshmi Kumar. The work has been built on the development of school links but now centres on initial teacher education (ITE) and further activities in schools to foster sustainable development.

Kenya

In Kenya, our partnership has developed around school linking but as in India has now moved forward to encompass ITE. Our focus area has also changed, to the Rift Valley Province, where we now work in partnership with Egerton University. Some partnership work continues in Nyanza Province, Western Kenya, where Victor Otieno conducts activities in primary schools to foster sustainable development.

GlosDEC Membership

GlosDEC is a member of the:

• Development Education Association (DEA)

• S.W. of England Development Education Association (SWEDE)

• Gloucestershire International Forum (GIF)

If you would like to become a member of GlosDEC or for further information about the work we do, 

please contact:

Greig Whitehead

Sue Weir

Cath White

email: info@global-dimension.co.uk