GIVAT HAVIVA
Project Linnaeus associates in Givat Haviva’s International Department
A group of academics from Greece, Norway, Germany, Austria and Sweden associated with Project Linnaeus visited Givat Haviva to learn about educational projects promoting shared citizenship.
Under the leadership of Anna Tapola, an academic based in Sweden who has ties to Givat Haviva’s International Department going back many a year, the multi-national academics were impressed by their visit to the campus, opportunity to spend time in the Wadi Ara region and Barta’a village and to finish up their day at Kibbutz Mishmar HaEmek discussing some of the finer points of life in that community over a meal in the communal dining-room.
“The Linnaeus International Project on Integrative Approaches within Teacher Education (known as Linnaeus Project) is a new international research project initiated in 2009 and is coordinated from Linnaeus University, Sweden,” explained Anna Tapola.
“Seven national groups (from Austria, Cyprus, Germany, Greece, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland) are included in the project. So far, 24 researchers are involved in the national groups, and a portion of these researchers are now participating in this field trip to Israel - and I am delighted to have been able to bring them here to Givat Haviva,” said Anna, Linnaeus Project coordinator.
Asked to describe Project Linnaeus, Anna commented that the project focuses on what potentials may exist within teacher education in terms of finding sustainable solutions regarding some of the major contemporary challenges against humanity and human living conditions that our world is confronted with.
“One such challenge is related to food security, and how/if it is possible to feed a growing world population of seven thousand million people. Another challenge of interest for the Linnaeus project concerns usage of modern genetics and gene technology, and how such a body of new knowledge affects our views on the human nature, human dignity and what it means to be a human being. Such challenges are also related to moral and democratic aspects of education and so our interest in Givat Haviva. By visiting this institute the researchers have had the opportunity to gain first hand information from educators that on a practical level are engaged in various educational activities that are also related to moral and democratic issues,” Anna explained.
Upon return to Sweden, Anna emailed the following to the International Department.
“Prior to our field trip to Givat Haviva, the researchers participated in a workshop in Tel Aviv where we discussed our research plans for the upcoming three years and we are currently evaluating all our activities that took place in Israel. It is clear that our field trip to Givat Haviva was much appreciated, and the expression ‘Excellent’ constantly reoccurs in the returned evaluation forms. he group was very enthusiastic about their visit to Givat Haviva, Barta’a and the kibbutz and especially the opportunity to talk with those at Givat Haviva involved in the educational projects.”
Linnaeus Project participants:
Anna Tapola, Sweden, Linnaeus Project coordinator
Lena Fritzen, Sweden, scientific leader of Linnaeus Project.
Dimitris Pnevmatikos, Greece.
Geir Olav Toft, Norway
Simone Wurth, Germany
Leopold Latzko, Germany
Brigitte Latzko, Germany
Catherine Dimitriadou, Greece
Jostein Saether, Norway
Jean-Luc Patry, Austria
Nikos Makris, Greece
Linnaeus associates at the Katzir observation platform overlooking Barta’a village
Photos & text: Lydia Aisenberg.
September, 2010
