[Offre expirée] Recherche de partenaires : Pacte vert pour l’Europe – propositions 10.2 et 10.3 – Université KdG
Le Centre d’Expertise en soutien Pédagogique de l’Université KdG de sciences appliquées et des arts à Anvers, Belgique, recherche un consortium pour (l’un de) ces appels à projets du Pacte vert pour l’Europe (European Green Deal) :
- Behavioural, social and cultural change for the Green Deal (LC-GD-10-2-2020)
- Enabling citizens to act on climate change, for sustainable development and environmental protection through education, citizen science, observation initiatives, and civic engagement(LC-GD-10-3-2020)
En savoir plus sur le Pacte vert pour l’Europe
Context
In the past years, the Centre of Expertise conducted action research to understand what is needed to implement SdG’s in Early Childhood Centres. The Centre is also conducting research connected with separate sdg’s: on green spaces in childcare settings, on decent work in childcare settings by exploring how shortly educated practitioners experience their jobs. And this year, we are working on a project on how to organize transitions in Early Childhood Settings in an inclusive way, addressing all staff members as well as the families who make use of the childcare.
Philosophical frameworks: The Centre adheres to Care Ethics, considering care for one another and for one’s environment as a key element in a democratic society, and with a stress on the interconnected nature of the care-giver and the care-receiver as a starting point (Tronto, 2009).
Data gathering and analysis: The centre uses participatory methods to gather and analyse data. Practitioners gather data along with the researcher, for instance by interviewing parents, organizing focus groups with parents, taking part in photo-voice inquiry and by pedagogic documentation of their practice. We try to capture children’s experiences in similar ways, taking care of their agency. We experiment with co-analysis of these data. Making complex matters tangible for all participants, is an important concern in these processes.
Results: Our results range from policy recommendations over action frameworks to a practical guide to work on sdg’s as a childcare centre.
With respect to the call ‘Behavioural, social and cultural change for the Green Deal (LC-GD-10-2-2020)’ we would like to:
- experiment with childcare settings as possible loci of behavioural change; as they are able to reach out to families, other organizations and neighbourhoods while at the same time counting on a, largely female, workforce with low salaries and low social status;
- elaborate on our understanding of the ways shortly educated staff members look at sustainable development and how issues such as gender, power and inequality relate to this look and to possible behavioural change.
Regarding Enabling citizens to act on climate change, for sustainable development and environmental protection through education, citizen science, observation initiatives, and civic engagement(LC-GD-10-3-2020) we would like to
- further explore what sustainable development can mean for children younger than 3;
- investigate how exchange Early Childhood practitioners can gain strength in working on sustainable development with the youngest children by collaborating with schools.
Centre Of Expertise
The Centre of Expertise in Pedagogical Support conducts practice-oriented research for and with professionals working with children under 12 years of age.
Following competences are relevant to the calls:
- Extensive experience with practice-oriented research for stakeholders in the field of Early Childhood Education and Care, After School Care and Leisure Time facilities.-Strong network in local organisations working with a diverse public of children (schools, childcare, leisure time and cultural activities, reception centers) and willing to participate in pilots and action research.
- Extensive experience in mixed -methods research, including experiential research with children, action research, evaluation research, research by design, as well as narratological analysis.
- Extensive experience in coaching methods for professionals working with young children, including coaching on the floor, coaching of low-skilled professionals.Experience in developing hands-on tools, such as a practical guide on how to introduce Education for Sustainability in Early Childhood Centres, and the INDYGAME, a playful method to discuss intercultural awareness.-Experience with creating digital learning platforms.
The centre is currently involved in several EU projects:
- Two social innovation projects in the Interreg 2seas Programme: PACE (Providing Access to Childcare and Employment) and VRAC (It takes a Village to Raise A Child)
- One Erasmus + (Value+ project on the principle of Educare).
- The centre is also member of a COST action on parental participation and co-presiding the national preparatory committee of OMEP.
Contact
Dietlinde Willockx, Head of the Centre of Expertise of Pedagogical Support KdG University of Applied Sciene and Arts +32 3 613 15 28 or +32 483 03 80 53 dietlinde.willockx@kdg.be.