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EDI Study Program: Modernizing Education with Diversity and Inclusion.
Dr. Markéta Košatková from the Department of Social Pedagogy at Faculty of Education was awarded by the Ministry of Education. Our esteemed colleague has long strived to transform the educational environment in order to support students at Masaryk University not only in excellent academic performance, but also in personal and social development. She represents the EDI study programme, of which she is the guarantor.
Reason for establishing EDI study program
We wanted the program to respond to the acceleration of the times and global challenges - such as environmental disasters, pandemics, poverty, and immigration - and the increasing interconnectedness of people from different cultures. The program focuses on interdisciplinary and internationalized education to equip learners with the skills to respond well to various intercultural aspects and to actively engage in local and global issues related to education and inclusiveness. The aim is to develop learners who can contribute to resolving educational and social problems in schools, educational administration, social organizations, public administration offices, and NGOs in their local communities and internationally. The program is designed to support their personal development and prepare them for the changing international labor market.
The program views education in its broadest sense as interdisciplinary, encompassing the fields of psychology, social pedagogy, and special and inclusive education. It has been developed in collaboration with several departments in the Faculty of Education and higher education institutions abroad. At the same time, the program was also established to meet the needs of potential international applicants who seek study programs in English every year.
“Social pedagogy taught me to look for the limits of the (impossible) possible, which is why I am interested in intercultural and international education—diversity, discourse, and people's actions within it.”
Uniqueness of study program
The study program has several unique aspects:
- Internationalized curriculum: the program uses internationally recognized academic resources in English and integrates international content and perspectives into the curriculum. This allows students to understand global educational issues and approaches better.
- International Pedagogy and Teaching Methods: Courses are often taught with international experts and academics, bringing diverse international expertise and experience to the classroom.
- Engagement in community work and practice: students engage in community work and practical activities locally and abroad, supporting their practical experience and real-world skills development.
- Extra-curricular activities: the program offers extra-curricular activities designed to provide meaningful and enriching interactions between international students and students from home, fostering intercultural relationships and understanding.
- Use of COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning) methods: the program regularly uses COIL methods to allow students to interact with teachers and peers internationally in an online environment. This promotes learning in a global context and the development of intercultural competence.
- International internship: part of the study includes a semester study abroad, where students will, among other things, collect research data for their final project. The seminar develops learners' skills in analyzing and reflecting on their own cultural assumptions and promotes effective communication in diverse communication styles and multicultural interactions.
Offer of subjects
The study program offers various interesting subjects that reflect its interdisciplinary and international character. Courses are designed to provide students with knowledge and skills in adaptation and integration, inclusive and intercultural education, and to enable them to develop competencies for working in diverse environments. It is hard to choose because they are all interesting because of the expertise of the people who teach them. For example:
- Global Learning and Social Justice: the course provides an understanding of theoretical and philosophical perspectives on equality and justice in the context of globalization. Learners critically reflect on cultural norms and develop principles of social justice.
- Education for All - Experiences from Practice. Students gain practical experience during their internship in Czech primary schools, learn about the Czech education system, and compare it with other systems, focusing on inclusive education. Engaging Diversity in Communication with Cultural Others.
- The Role of Self-Experience for Professional Development: The focus is on personal development and reflection as a critical aspect of professional development.
- Engaging Diversity in Communication with Cultural Others: this seminar develops the learner's skills in analyzing and reflecting on their cultural assumptions. It promotes effective communication in diverse communication styles and multicultural interactions.
- Outdoor Education and Drama Education: learners explore socio-pedagogical themes through experiential learning, drama, and theatre, fostering creativity, communication, and intercultural skills.
“We have created a new curriculum, but only the students will give it real meaning.”
Job prospects of graduates
Graduates of this degree program have a wide range of employment opportunities in both the local and international labor market, with demand expected to be exceptionally high in education, schools, organizations, government and non-government agencies, and non-profit organizations, especially where there is a need to develop and implement policies and practices for equal access to education and inclusion of learners from diverse backgrounds. In the private sector, graduates are sought as coaches/facilitators in global businesses to promote an interculturally inclusive environment for a multi-national/intercultural workforce.
Where do students apply to you from?
The program is just getting started, but we have applicants from all over the world. Currently, for example, from Myanmar. The program is open to all without distinction.
Reason for studying in the EDI program
One main reason for studying the Education for Diversity and Inclusion program would be its unique interdisciplinary approach to preparing learners for the international labor market in education-related fields. The program enhances the employability of graduates by offering a curriculum that combines education and psychology, social education, and special and inclusive education. In this way, the program enables learners to shape and reflect on their career orientation and professional self-concept across a broad spectrum of disciplines. In addition to theoretical knowledge, the program focuses on acquiring practical skills in intercultural communication, group work, tutoring, and reflective practice, which prepares learners to function effectively in educational and pedagogical situations in a diverse and globalized world.
the guarantor of the EDI study programme and a teacher from the Faculty of Education has long been trying to transform the educational environment by supporting students at Masaryk University not only in academic excellence but also in personal and social development. She emphasizes the international dimension of education, teaching in international teams, cultural-sensitive approach and extra-curricular volunteer activities. Structural inequalities in education are an important pillar of her pedagogical work, which she reflects with learners through work experience with socially disadvantaged families.
She enjoys looking for innovations and thinking about how to improve the learning experience for learners, focusing on supporting future teachers through virtual reality learning that allows them to rehearse pedagogical skills in a safe environment, with an emphasis on the reflective component of education. Her other projects focus on learner wellbeing and research into situations that can cause secondary trauma for youth workers. He also sees a priority in supporting socially disadvantaged children and their often complicated educational pathways. He believes that the university has enormous capital for fulfilling a society-wide role.
Study programme EDI (Education for Diversity and Inclusion)
The Faculty of Education of Masaryk University has introduced this new EDI programme thanks to Mgr. et Mgr. Marketa Košatková, Ph.D. and Mgr. Zdeněk Janik, M.A., Ph.D. The program is designed for (but not limited to) international students and will be taught in English. Speaking of this program, it brings a modern and sensitive way of teaching the specifics of education, diversity, inclusion and cultural sensitivity. Students are offered courses in three specialisations, including:
Special and Inclusive Education
Pedagogy and Psychology
Social Pedagogy
