School change

Access teacher stories, audit tools, curriculum support and a wide range of professional learning resources to help your school become Asia-literate.

Studies of Asia in Year 12

Written by Jenny Wilkinson and Gina Milgate, April 2009, Australian Council of Educational Research (ACER), for the AEF, this report analysed the extent to which students completed Year 12 subjects with content or focus on Asia using a sample of predominantly tertiary entrance subjects that included: English, History, Geography, International Studies, Politics, and Arts.

• Across Australia only a small minority of students undertake studies with content or focus on Asia

• Generally there is a strong disposition for the inclusion of content on Europe rather than content on Asia.

• Teachers are not likely to select material which they are unfamiliar with or may never have studied.

• Simply making content or focus on Asia available as an option in courses does not appear to be stimulating the study of Asia.

• What teachers know and teach about reflects to some extent the content of their own teritary education, including teacher training.

Research that focuses on the importance of school leadership can be found in a report The Future of Studies of Asia and Australia in Australian Schools: An Evaluative Investigation (PDF: 1.0 Mb). It examines the views of education stakeholder groups, schools and the Asia Education Foundation.

Case studies and tools for change

Getting Started with Intercultural Language Learning

This resource explores five aspects of intercultural language learning and provides examples of school-based practice.

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Engaging Young Australians with Asia: Teacher and School Resource

A guide to implementing the National Statement for Engaging Young Australians with Asia in Australian Schools.

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Now More Than Ever We Live in One World ...

Explores authentic examples of studies of Asia and internationalised curriculum – how it looks in practice in a school or classroom.

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Video

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  Kathe Kirby, Executive Director, Asia Education Foundation

  ‘… if Asia literacy for all Australians is our aim, we have a long journey still in front of us.’

  Video: 4:29

Professional learning

Click here for professional learning resources related to school change.

View the seven key issues that have been identified with becoming an Asia-literate school.