This structured course is designed for teachers, head teachers, principals and other school staff who would like to learn about the Portuguese education system, which is characterized by a strong commitment to inclusion and increasing flexibility for schools to respond to local contexts. Portugal offers an interesting example of how a centralized education system can combine common national expectations with school-level innovation and community-based learning.

The course has a general focus on the Portuguese education system although the pedagogic encounters with schools are focused on Primary, Secondary levels. However, participants working with other educational levels may also benefit from the general approach of this course.

This 7-Day Structured Course efficiently combines pedagogic encounters with schools, training sessions, workshops, and field learning projects “Contexts4Content” to places of natural, historical, and cultural significance. This will provide pedagogic insights for participants and ideas for development of teaching resources for their students. All these elements will help you to better understand the education and culture of a society that is based on the idea of making opportunities for success more equitable for students, regardless of gender or socio-cultural background.

This study visit is part of the Irish American Educator Initiative, giving American teachers the opportunity to experience education in action across Europe.

For further information, please consult the reference programme for this course.