The shared vision of NASA Globe and the University of the Western Cape (UWC) Chair in Sport, Development, Peace, and Olympic Education (SDP) came to fruition, empowering educators globally for enhanced environmental awareness and intercultural competence to promote the Sustainable Development Goals.
Ms Larisa K. Schelkin and Professor Michael Jabot - both teaching faculty at the UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) in New York - initiated the collaboration with UWC UNESCO Chair Professor Marion Keim.
It culminated in Prof Keim's facilitation of the first online Seminar on Intercultural Competence, Story Circles, and Olympic Values Education for NASA Globe on 26 February. Ms Schelkin, CEO, President, and Founder of the Global STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Education Center, along with Prof Jabot - a State University of New York (SUNY) Distinguished Professor in Science Education - spearheaded this innovative teacher education initiative.
Their invitation to Prof Keim, who is a distinguished sports science, development, and peace studies teacher, garnered immediate interest, further strengthening the collaboration with NASA GLOBE.
NASA GLOBE is an international initiative fostering environmental science and learning. It aligns with UWC’s UNESCO Chair SDP focus and the UN Agenda 2030. This alignment promotes capacity building, research exchange, and joint learning, emphasising policy dialogue and collaboration in the SDG, SDP, and Olympic Education fields.
Based on research led by fellow UNESCO Chair, Dr Darla K. Deardorff, the Story Circle methodology was identified and adapted to foster a human rights-based approach to intercultural competencies. Piloted successfully by UNESCO in five regions worldwide, this methodology formed the cornerstone of the vibrant online seminar.
Educators from South Africa, Nigeria, the UK, and the US engaged in values-based approaches, exploring intercultural competence and story circles as transformative tools. Through storytelling, participants embraced shared humanity, recognising commonalities amidst diversity, echoing the spirit of ubuntu.
Prof Jabot remarked: “One of the greatest challenges we have in shaping the world for the students that we work with is developing the disposition that our students have toward the appreciation and consideration of views of the world that are different from ours. Story Circles allow for a unique way of helping students to develop these dispositions. As teachers, I often think that we are often driven to define student success based on the external measures that shape our educational systems. The reality of the situation is that when students leave our schools the world they enter won’t judge them based on these measures but rather on the qualities they exhibit as a person and the quality of the work they contribute to make the world better. With a strategy like Story Circles, I think we as teachers can shape our work to help students understand that they can lead a purposeful life where their achievements are based on the impact their actions have, and that their successes are based on serving others based on the principles that matter most to them.”
Ms Schelkin summarised the first NASA Globe – UWC collaboration: “In our journey to nurture a global community that is both environmentally conscious and culturally competent, the collaboration between NASA GLOBE and the UNESCO Chair SDP exemplifies the strength of international educational initiatives. Our seminar, a fusion of intercultural competence, Story Circles, and Olympic Values Education, represents a pioneering step towards empowering educators across the globe. The UNESCO Story Circles, a pivotal component of our seminar, are instrumental in enhancing intercultural communication, fostering deep cross-cultural understanding, and facilitating collaboration. These circles serve as dynamic platforms where stories become bridges, connecting diverse experiences and worldviews, thereby enriching our collective pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals. We are incredibly fortunate and grateful to work with Prof. Marion Keim, the UNESCO Chair, on this vital initiative, and we are greatly appreciative of the support by the University of the Western Cape. This collaboration not only illuminates the path to achieving these goals but also underscores the essence of ubuntu — recognising our shared humanity amidst our diverse cultures. As we move forward, let us continue to leverage such innovative educational practices to inspire educators and students alike, fostering a world where understanding and respect for all cultures fuel our collective efforts towards sustainable development and peace.”
Prof Keim pledged UWC’s unwavering support, affirming the importance of values-based education in fostering intercultural competence and peace.
As the UNESCO Chair at UWC and NASA Globe's collaboration unfolds, it promises to bridge divides and nurture a more peaceful, inclusive world, echoing the principles of global citizenship and collective responsibility.
Ms Larisa K. Schelkin and Professor Michael Jabot - both teaching faculty at the UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) in New York - initiated the collaboration with UWC UNESCO Chair Professor Marion Keim.
It culminated in Prof Keim's facilitation of the first online Seminar on Intercultural Competence, Story Circles, and Olympic Values Education for NASA Globe on 26 February. Ms Schelkin, CEO, President, and Founder of the Global STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Education Center, along with Prof Jabot - a State University of New York (SUNY) Distinguished Professor in Science Education - spearheaded this innovative teacher education initiative.
Their invitation to Prof Keim, who is a distinguished sports science, development, and peace studies teacher, garnered immediate interest, further strengthening the collaboration with NASA GLOBE.
NASA GLOBE is an international initiative fostering environmental science and learning. It aligns with UWC’s UNESCO Chair SDP focus and the UN Agenda 2030. This alignment promotes capacity building, research exchange, and joint learning, emphasising policy dialogue and collaboration in the SDG, SDP, and Olympic Education fields.
Based on research led by fellow UNESCO Chair, Dr Darla K. Deardorff, the Story Circle methodology was identified and adapted to foster a human rights-based approach to intercultural competencies. Piloted successfully by UNESCO in five regions worldwide, this methodology formed the cornerstone of the vibrant online seminar.
Educators from South Africa, Nigeria, the UK, and the US engaged in values-based approaches, exploring intercultural competence and story circles as transformative tools. Through storytelling, participants embraced shared humanity, recognising commonalities amidst diversity, echoing the spirit of ubuntu.
Prof Jabot remarked: “One of the greatest challenges we have in shaping the world for the students that we work with is developing the disposition that our students have toward the appreciation and consideration of views of the world that are different from ours. Story Circles allow for a unique way of helping students to develop these dispositions. As teachers, I often think that we are often driven to define student success based on the external measures that shape our educational systems. The reality of the situation is that when students leave our schools the world they enter won’t judge them based on these measures but rather on the qualities they exhibit as a person and the quality of the work they contribute to make the world better. With a strategy like Story Circles, I think we as teachers can shape our work to help students understand that they can lead a purposeful life where their achievements are based on the impact their actions have, and that their successes are based on serving others based on the principles that matter most to them.”
Ms Schelkin summarised the first NASA Globe – UWC collaboration: “In our journey to nurture a global community that is both environmentally conscious and culturally competent, the collaboration between NASA GLOBE and the UNESCO Chair SDP exemplifies the strength of international educational initiatives. Our seminar, a fusion of intercultural competence, Story Circles, and Olympic Values Education, represents a pioneering step towards empowering educators across the globe. The UNESCO Story Circles, a pivotal component of our seminar, are instrumental in enhancing intercultural communication, fostering deep cross-cultural understanding, and facilitating collaboration. These circles serve as dynamic platforms where stories become bridges, connecting diverse experiences and worldviews, thereby enriching our collective pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals. We are incredibly fortunate and grateful to work with Prof. Marion Keim, the UNESCO Chair, on this vital initiative, and we are greatly appreciative of the support by the University of the Western Cape. This collaboration not only illuminates the path to achieving these goals but also underscores the essence of ubuntu — recognising our shared humanity amidst our diverse cultures. As we move forward, let us continue to leverage such innovative educational practices to inspire educators and students alike, fostering a world where understanding and respect for all cultures fuel our collective efforts towards sustainable development and peace.”
Prof Keim pledged UWC’s unwavering support, affirming the importance of values-based education in fostering intercultural competence and peace.
As the UNESCO Chair at UWC and NASA Globe's collaboration unfolds, it promises to bridge divides and nurture a more peaceful, inclusive world, echoing the principles of global citizenship and collective responsibility.
