Project

The Student Teachers Exchange Programme (STEP) is an initiative of the Radboud Teachers Academy, the institute for teacher training at Radboud University (Nijmegen, The Netherlands). In close collaboration with the Universities of Vienna (Austria), Bremen (Germany), and Salamanca (Spain), an exchange programme for prospective teachers in secondary education was developed to be held annually and by each university in turn. Read more about the project below.

Aim

The Student Teachers Exchange Programme (STEP) is a short-term international programme for academic students who aim to obtain a Master's degree in secondary education. The main goal of this programme is for prospective teachers across all disciplines to broaden their perspective on teaching and learning by stepping beyond their borders. Through shared exploration of diverse views, methods, and practices, participants are encouraged to further develop their cultural self-awareness, critical thinking, and teacher leadership towards a confident start of their careers.

Partners and funding

STEP is carried out in joint effort by four European universities: Radboud University, the University of Vienna, the University of Bremen, and the University of Salamanca. The programme's logo (on the right) depicts four stepping stones forming a whole, representing the partner universities and their close collaboration. The colours are each of the university's characterizing school colours.

STEP is an Erasmus+ funded Blended Intensive Programme (BIP). More information on BIP can be found here.

Design principles

At the start of the project, the partner universities defined four interlocking design principles for STEP that represent their collective values and function as a guideline for every edition:

Intercultural competency
STEP invests in the students' ability to get along with, work and learn with people from diverse cultures. The organisation respects "the cultural identity of the learner through the provision of culturally appropriate and responsive quality for all" (The Unesco Guidelines for Intercultural Education (2006), p. 31).
A diverse and inclusive environment
The wellbeing of the participants does not only depend on the intercultural perspective of the programme: it also requires a learning environment that respects diversity, propels inclusion, and is psychologically safe.
Self-directed learning
STEP encourages participants to "take the initiative (...) in diagnosing their learning needs, formulating learning goals, identifying human and material resources for learning, choosing and implementing appropriate learning strategies, and evaluating learning outcomes" (Knowles, M.S. (1975), Self-directed learning: A guide for learners and teachers, p. 18).
Theory into practice
Essential to academic teacher education is the integration between theory on learning and instruction and practical teacher training. Embedded in this educational context, STEP consciously opts for an integrated approach to the theme at hand.

Programme

The programme is held annually and rotates between the four partners. Every edition revolves around a current, cross-cultural challenge for educational science and practice, which is selected by the hosting university. Unique to this programme is its blended nature, combining an interactive digital course for a period of 8 weeks with an intensive exchange week on location.

The digital course kicks off with a live online session, in which the students meet and team up in international teams. Then, they go through a sequence of steps, which includes building knowledge and understanding of the central theme, reflecting on (intercultural) collaboration, and working on a case study. Students are encouraged to manage their own course work, and are provided with enough structure and guidance when needed. Have a look at the set-up of the digital course of 2024-2025 for more details.

In the ensuing exchange week, the students meet in real life and continue learning through a variety of workshops and lectures, site visits to comprehensive schools, and more. They share their progress and findings in group presentations and work, both in teams and individually, on the goals they set for the week. Click here to check out the exchange week of 2024-2025.

Trainer track

In addition to the main program for students, STEP offers a sidetrack for the teaching staff involved, consisting of two meetings online and two meetings and/or activities during the exchange week. The trainer track aims to advance both the personal professional development of the teacher trainers, as well as the international outlook and broader cooperation of the institutes in general. Go to this page for the 2024-2025 programme.

More information

Would you like to know more about the project? Get in touch with the coordinator of STEP, Esmée Bruggink (Radboud University, The Netherlands).

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