Inernational Educational Engagement

Fostering Good Practice in Teaching & Learning

Overview/ What do we do?

Akal Institute of Rural Women Empowerment has been conducting International educational engagements as a valuable way to enhance its programs, broaden its perspectives, and create global connections. Among the several international educational engagement opportunities for the institute, the two prominent ones:

A ) Helga Todd Foundation Certificate program in early years teachers training from Cambridge University

The collaboration between the Helga Tod Foundation and the Akal Institutes in 2011 to establish a two-year Early Years Teachers’ Training Residential Program for 78 students of AIRWE is a commendable initiative with several positive outcomes.

The primary objective of the program was to advance education and provide high-quality teacher training to empower local women. This was achieved through financial support, expertise, and guided assistance

The program’s unique feature was the involvement of volunteering educationists from around the world. This not only enriched the educational experience but also allowed for the transfer of expertise, experience, and knowledge to the local women. The program aimed to nurture local women to become qualified teachers with a focus on early years education. This training was essential for developing sustainable education locally and improving the overall quality of life for these women. The program provided a structured curriculum that focused on enhancing the competence, knowledge, and skills of teachers, particularly in areas such as planning, teaching, and assessment. The fact that the young teachers were awarded a certificate in Early Years Education from Cambridge University upon successful completion is a significant achievement. One of the remarkable outcomes of the program was that 38 of the trained women were accepted into the IB-PYP (International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program) in 2012-13. This demonstrates the effectiveness of the program in preparing these women for more advanced teaching roles.

Overall, this collaboration between the Helga Tod Foundation and the Akal Institutes had a profound impact on advancing education, empowering local women, and improving the quality of teaching in the early years of education. It not only provided valuable skills to the participants but also contributed to the broader goal of sustainable education and community development.

B ) One-year teacher training diploma program for graduate students at Akal University

The program was aimed at recent graduates and postgraduates who aspired to become early years teachers, focusing on children aged 3-6. Its primary goal was to improve education in the local and neighboring regions, with a particular emphasis on empowering young women.

Akal University hosted the program’s host and provided job guarantees to participants upon successful completion. Graduates were supported in securing positions in Akal Academy schools spanning three states: Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan. The program integrates were based on educational theory and practical, in-school experience.

Features of our Program

The Foundation via this program intends to pass on best practices in teaching and learning. We are committed towards achieving our goal of building a better education experience & system. The features of our program are the following:

  • To help these young women develop a creative approach to education and training.
  • To encourage women to pursue their dreams and aspirations of gaining quality education & improving their life quality.
  • To train young women candidates from rural areas with a minimum qualification of 10+ matriculation to become early years & primary class teachers.
  • To provide courses to help practicing teachers develop their pedagogical skills so that they can teach & communicate more effectively with the students in the classroom.
  • Look for more features

Benefits of our Program

  • The teachers will be able to reflect on the principles of teaching & learning in the context of their own experience.
  • The teachers will gain advanced education and skills to improve the students learning through practical and interactive learning methods that have proven successful.
  • The communication skills of the teachers will be further polished by undertaking private study, teaching preparation & personal research.
  • The program will empower women by providing them employment opportunities in the field of education.
  • The program will enable the teachers to identify opportunities to make progress in their learning.
  • The program will enable the young teachers to become familiar with recent educational research
  • The program will ensure that the teachers gain the experience of collaborative planning & teaching.