About the Project

Intercultural Understanding (ICU) is a general capability that the Australian Curriculum expects all young people to develop through their primary and secondary schooling. ICU is an essential part of living with others in the 21st century (ACARA, 2012) and for building a culturally diverse but cohesive society in Australia (MCEETYA, 2008, p.4).

This large-scale Australian Research Council project is working with schools and schooling systems to help them build intercultural understanding. The project aims to build knowledge and appreciation of Australia’s social, cultural, linguistic and religious diversity, and the ability to relate to and communicate across cultures.

The project consists of three research programs:

  • - A study of national patterns of ICU among students and teachers
    - Collaborative redesign and research with 12 Partner Schools working to become lighthouse schools for ICU
    - A large-scale, longitudinal study of the critical turning points in ICU acquisition among primary ad secondary students.

Through these three research programs, the ICU project will address the following questions:

1. - What facilitates ICU in children and adolescents?
2. - What facilitates ICU in schools?
3. - How can these be supported?
4. - How can we know what makes a difference?

 
Video introduction by Professor Christine Halse

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Research Bulletin

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Project Contacts

Dr Michiko Weinmann (Research Fellow)

PHONE (03) 9244 3047

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