ICTEP was initiated by Prof. Dr Jordan Shurr, Professor of Special Education at Queen’s University. The project fosters the digital internationalisation of teacher education and supports the innovative development of language teaching by integrating research-informed global collaboration directly into the curriculum. Rather than practising language in isolation, students use English as a working language to explore current issues in education alongside peers from around the world.
As part of the programme, student teachers from 18 universities in 10 countries meet online in self-moderated small groups. Within this Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) framework, they discuss key themes such as inclusion, diversity, Special Educational Needs (SEN) and cultural humility. The focus is not only on exchanging perspectives, but on learning to articulate complex professional ideas clearly, confidently and critically in English.
At Passau, ICTEP is anchored in the English language programme at the Language Centre and is open to student teachers and other interested students. Participants prepare academically and linguistically for the international meetings, take part in three structured online sessions with global partners, and reflect on their experiences in a research-oriented portfolio. In doing so, they enhance their productive and receptive language skills while developing intercultural awareness, digital competence and professional confidence.
The project is embedded within broader internationalisation efforts. Through its involvement in the European Teacher Education Network and initiatives supported by the DAAD programme Lehramt.International, the University of Passau continues to expand the global dimension of its teacher education programmes. ICTEP represents a natural next step: connecting international research in teacher education with forward-looking language practice.
Within the field of educational research and inclusion, the interdisciplinary initiative is supported by the Chair of Educational Sciences with a focus on diversity research and educational spaces in middle childhood (Prof. Hansen), as well as the project Basiskompetenzen Inklusion (BAS!S 2.0) led by Dr Florian Salzberger.
By bringing together academic discussion, professional reflection and international collaboration, ICTEP demonstrates how language learning can become a dynamic, research-informed and globally connected component of contemporary teacher education.
Contact and further information:
Ophelia Sabine Blake (Project Lead at the University of Passau)
Language Centre, English Lecturer
Teacher Education Centre (global.trex)
Coordinator for the European Teacher Education Network
(ETEN) University of Passau
E-mail: sabine-ophelia.blake@uni-passau.de
Project Website: https://www.addedrg.ca/collab.html
Participating institutions and countries
- Universitat de Vic-Universitat Central de Catalunya (Spain)
- University of Calabar (Nigeria)
- HZ University of Applied Sciences (The Netherlands)
- Ludwigsburg University of Education (Germany)
- Kirchliche Pädagogische Hochschule (Austria)
- University of Education, Winneba (Ghana)
- University of Guyana (Guyana)
- Marnix Academie (The Netherlands)
- HAN University of Applied Sciences (The Netherlands)
- KDG University of Applied Sciences (Belgium)
- PXL University of Applied Sciences and Arts (Belgium)
- Kristianstad University (Sweden)
- NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences (The Netherlands)
- Vives University of Applied Sciences (Belgium)
- Queen’s University (Canada)
- Universität Wien (Austria)
- Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (The Netherlands)
- University of Passau (Germany)