What is the Pestalozzi Programme for?

The PESTALOZZI Programme is the Council of Europe flagship programme for the professional development of teachers and education actors.

It comprises three main areas of activity, (i) European Workshops organised in the Member States, (ii) European Seminars organised at the Academy of Bad Wildbad and (iii) European Modules for trainer training. The programme, building as it does on the long tradition of teacher training bursaries at the Council of Europe, has been developed to respond to the challenges of the Third Summit of Heads of State and Government of 2005. At this summit leaders called for a concerted effort by the Council of Europe to ensure that its values of respect of human rights, democracy and rule of law are placed at the centre of our education systems. They emphasised the key role of teacher education in this process.

Q : For whom is the Pestalozzi Programme?

Pestalozzi programme is for education professionals wishing to integrate values of democracy, Human rights and the rule of law in the school curriculum of their country/school/class. More specifically, it is intended to: 

• teachers ;

• heads of school;

• inspectors; 

• educational advisers,

• teacher trainers;  

• textbook authors; 

• other education profesionnals.

 

Q : On which themes the Pestalozzi programme works on ?

The different themes covered by the Pestalozzi Programme are closely linked to the Council of Europe priority projects, particularly in the field of education, as for example :

 - Education for democratic citizenship and Human rights education ; 

- Intercultural education and Education for socio-cultural diversity

- History education 

- Remembrance and the prevention of crimes against humanity ;

- Education of Roma children in Europe - Children’s rights; 

- Prevention of violence ;

- Medialiteracy ;

- Gender equality and gender mainstreaming in education; 

- Other themes and general concerns and methodology. 

Q : What are the resources the Pestalozzi programme offers ? 

The resources offered by the Pestalozzi Programme can be divided into two categories: 1- Activities (module series, workshops and seminars) available to education professionals coming from the 50 signatories countries of the European Cultural Convention; 2- the numerous publications for every education professional wishing to introduce into the school curriculum of their country/school/class notions of democracy, human rights respect, and building of rule of law.

Q : What are the European Modules ? 

The general aim of the European Modules for Trainer Training is to train teacher trainers in a process of active peer-training and co-development of training materials as well as establishing a thematic Council of Europe network of teacher trainers. Each series of Modules on a given theme comprises 5 stages: planning and preparation (6-8 months), Module/Workshop A (3-4 days), development and piloting (6-8 months, online exchange of information and experience, online reporting), Module/Workshop B (3-4 days), editing and dissemination (2-3 months).

Q : What is a European Workshop?

The worksops engage educators for 3 to 5 days. They offer the teachers the possibility: to be acquainted with the work of the Council of Europe in the field of education; to be involved in a multicultural experience; to share information, ideas and teaching material with colleagues from other countries; to act their role of multiplier in informing their colleagues.

Each year, about 2 000 European teachers participate in this Programme, 500 benefiting from the reimbursement of their travels expenses.

The National Liaison Officer in each signatory State distributes the List of European Workshops organised within the “Pestalozzi” Programme. This list is issued on the Website of the Council of Europe twice a year (in May and December).

 

Q : What is a European Seminar? 

The European Seminars are organised at the Academy of Bad Wildbad in close cooperation with the authorities of Baden-Wurttemberg (Germany). Previously they were known as "Seminars European Donaueschingen. Four European seminars are held annually.

Q : How to participate?

First, be sure you come from a signatory country of the European Cultural Convention. Second, select which activity in which you would like to participate in (workshop, seminar or modules) and follow every step for each of the proposed activity.

Q : Which countries can participate to the activities of the Pestalozzi Programme?

Nationals coming from the 50 states having signed the European Cultural Convention can participate to the Pestalozzi Programme: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, The Holy See, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Latvia , Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, "The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia", Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom.

For further information about the program visit Pestalozzi official webpage or contact National Liaison Officer. 

Nino Revishvili email: nrevishvili@tpdc.com