School of Education in association   with   two prominent Australian Universities, La Trobe University and RMIT University has initiated a collaborative project; Peer Alliance for Productive Professional Experience for Teaching (PAPPET). As per the MOU, which was signed in February this year, the project is for three years and it is meant for teacher trainees. The cost of the project is funded by the Government of Australia.

The broad objectives of the project include promoting intercultural understanding and enhancing teaching skills in a new globalized education scenario. According to the plan, first year will involve twenty  students, next year thirty students  and the third year  forty students from the two Australian Universities and an equal number of students from the School of Education.

This year the project was scheduled from 12 June to 30 June. It was inaugurated on 12 June at the Council room Central Block. The function was attended by the Registrar, Dr Anil J Pinto, the Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences Dr John Joseph Kennedy, the Director of International affairs and Dean of School of Business and Management Dr Sunithi Phadke and all the faculty and students of School of Education. Later in the evening, a cultural programme was organized for the project members by the students of Performing Arts and it was attended by the Vice Chancellor of Christ University, Col Dr Fr Thomas C Mathew, the Registrar, Anil J Pinto, the Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences, Dr John Joseph Kennedy, the Principals and Faculty co-ordinators of participating schools and the Faculty and students of School of  Education.

Twenty student-teachers from two Australian Universities and the School of Education were made into three teams and were assigned to three different schools. During the project period student teachers were involved in team teaching and other Academic activities in their respective schools under  the close supervision of a mentor teacher from the school.  Besides the Academic activities in the different schools project members were also given  an opportunity to visit Valley school ,Bangalore  which follows  the educational philosophy of J Krishnamurthy. A Visit  to Mysore was also organized for the project members. An interactive session of the visiting Australian students and faculty with all the students and faculty of School of Education was organized on 20June 2017.

The project has given an opportunity to student-teachers from the Australian Universities  to experience a totally different curricular and class room environment  in Indian Schools .All student-teachers got an opportunity to get exposed to different pedagogical techniques and Team Teaching in culturally plural classrooms. The Project has helped in developing bilateral cultural understanding, Pre service teacher confidence and intercultural competence among the project members.