Dr Ray Wallace School of Biomedical and Natural Sciences Nottingham Trent University, UK

1. Dr Ray Wallace School of Biomedical and Natural Sciences Nottingham Trent University, UK

2. The Bologna Process for the Practice-Orientated HE Sector in Chemistry COMENIUS 2.1 Action (Training of School Education Staff) APPLICATION

3. CITIES - Chemistry and Industry for Teachers in European Schools

4. Objectives:CITIES aspires to innovate in the development of partnership approaches between teacher training institutions, chemical industries and social partners, where universities act as catalysts. The course modules shall not only transport information, but also change attitudes and increase awareness of teachers as multipliers and guides to their pupils.

5. Rationale:Chemistry is a central science, and chemical industry a motor of innovation in Europe. The Lisbon goals demand skilled specialists and awareness of the European citizens. It is the teachers who kindle pupils interests at an early stage and guide them through the education system. Currently, teachers, curricula and pupils are too far away from the reality in the chemical industry and in research and development.

6. Target Groups:The target group are secondary school teachers.

7. Expected outputs:CITIES will design, test and deliver a European modular in service teacher training programme for chemistry teachers in 5 different languages with parts published in three more languages.The project consortium sees this programme as a step towards a future Euro-teacher label awarded to in service teachers.

8. Main Activities:The main activities are a needs validation, and the making, testing and dissemination of the modules.

9. Module 1: Framework Europe General Basic Information on EU policies, with special respect to the context of chemistry and chemical industry (such as Lisbon strategy, Bologna declaration and follow-up) and on trends in the European development of an “educational space” • Module 2: Chemistry changes everything Scope and impact of the European Chemical Industry, its workers and employees and of chemistry based products on the European economy, on citizens’ everyday life, on the environment and on the labour market. • Module 3: Commerce and innovation – our future Current and future development trends in the field of commercial application of chemical innovation, with particular regard to the European area (covering fields such as nano-technology, bio-technology, bio-analysis, sustainability of material and energy use, Green Chemistry, chemical engineering design etc.).

10. Module 4: Chemistry – bringing it alive Modern, practically oriented, appealing methodologies of teaching chemistry to a broad spectrum of pupils from different abilities and interests, including those who are heading for a career in chemistry and those who will just be “users” of applications of chemistry and voters in elections (societal aspects). As an example, E-learning with chemical subjects, use of mind-maps, topics of everyday life such as „A tin of ravioli – what is in it?“. Additionally, communicative competences of teachers in a transnational and international environment will be stressed • Module 5: Europe – the education and training arena Different approaches to vocational and tertiary chemical education in Europe, with special attention to student work experience and to student mobility, taking into account the question of employability of the graduates in a global economy.

11. Who is involved? • Lead - Europa Fachhochschule Fresenius • ECTN • European Chemistry Employers’ Group • European Mine, Chemical and Energy Workers’ Federation • Czech Chemical Society • Institute for the Didactics of Chemistry, Frankfurt University • German Chemical Society • University Ramon Llull • Jagiellonian University • Nottingham Trent University • Royal Society of Chemistry