NORHED II – Research –Department of Teacher Education
NORHED II: Enhancing the quality of science and mathematics education in Ethiopia and South Sudan
About the project
This project is a continuation from the previous NORHED I project: Advancing quality in education in the Primary and lower Secondary schools in Ethiopia and South Sudan (see Earlier Activities). The overarching goal of this NORHED II project is enhancing the capacity of teachers and teacher educators to improve the quality of science and mathematics teaching and learning in Ethiopia and South Sudan. The project is a six-year institutional partnership among Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Bahir Dar University (BDU), and the University of Juba (UJ). It intends to primarily develop the capacity of teacher educators at BDU and UJ, as well as at Colleges of Teacher Education (CTEs) in Ethiopia and Teacher Training Institutes (in South Sudan). STEM pedagogy and Gender Responsive Pedagogy training programs are also essential outreach components for school science and mathematics teachers.
The project interventions can broadly be categorized as program development, research and dissemination, and institutional capacity development. The program development aspect will launch a new joint PhD program in STEM education; revise the existing MED programs to expand the scope of the programs for accommodating the training of experts in science and mathematics education; and develop training programs to teacher educators and schoolteachers in Ethiopia. Twelve PhD (8 from Ethiopia; 4 from South Sudan) and 40 MED (20 from each southern partner) students will be enrolled during the project period. Besides, professional development training for 100 teacher educators (60 from CTEs and 40 from BDU) and STEM pedagogy and Gender Responsive Pedagogy training for 180 schoolteachers are planned in the project.
The institutional capacity development component comprises establishing a research and training center and a science museum at BDU and equipping the STEM center at UJ. In the research and dissemination aspect, three joint research projects are planned, four staffs will attend postdoc fellowship, and two conferences will be organized. Outputs from these research efforts will be published in reputable journals and conference proceedings.
Objectives and target group
The project aims to make comprehensive intervention which will lead to sustainable improvement in the quality of science and mathematics teaching and learning in Ethiopia and South Sudan. The targets of the intervention are university-based Teacher Educators and 10 Colleges of Teacher Education (CTE)’s, science and mathematics education experts working in the education sector and science and mathematics teachers from 30 schools. The project has the following four broad objectives.
- Enhancing the quality and relevance of science and mathematics teacher education programs
- Developing the capacity of teacher educators, schoolteachers, and experts in addressing the problem of the quality of science and mathematics education
- Establishing centre for the study of science and mathematics teaching and learning (CSSMTL) at Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia
- Produce more and higher-quality research in the areas of science and mathematics education
Outcomes
The expected outcomes of this project are
- Strengthened quality and relevance of education and research programmes and methods
- Increased competence and capacity of staff and students
- Increased engagement with relevant stakeholders, and dissemination of knowledge
- Strengthened education and research systems
- Improved institutional small-scale infrastructure and equipment for education and research
Key figures
Duration: 2021–2026
Funding: 20 Mill NOK
Financed through NORAD’s NORHED II program (see NORHED II at NTNU)
Earlier activities
Financed by NORAD through the NORHED I program (15 mill NOK).
The first project had a duration from 2016 to 2021, but with a none cost extension to 2023.
Partners Bahir Dar University (BDU), University og Juba (UJ) and NTNU.
Project summary
This project is a 5-year institutional partnership among BDU, NTNU, and UJ. It aims to build institutional capacity of BDU and UJ to improve the quality of science and Mathematics education in primary and lower secondary schools.
The project will have three components: Education, Research, and Institutional Capacity Building. The education component will develop workforce (of which 50% will be females) relevant to STEM undergraduate and Postgraduate programmes at BDU & UJ. It intends to support 10 partner Colleges of Teacher Education (CTEs) affiliated with BDU, 4 CTEs from marginalized regional states in Ethiopia, and South Sudan. Thus, the project aims to launch two master’s programmes enrolling 80 academic staff at BDU. It will also involve student and staff-exchange programs to train 12 PhD (8 from BDU and 4 from UJ) and 2 Post-Doc students at NTNU in STEM education.
Eight joint research projects will be undertaken with the aim of infusing core practices around STEM education and gender-responsive pedagogy in science and mathematics teachers’ practices.
The project will also work to enhance the STEM leadership capacity of University Management; equip the institutions’ STEM incubation centres, establish science museums, and develop ICT-based pedagogical and database support systems.
Contact us
If you are interested to know more about this project, please contact us:
- Jørund Aasetre (project manager)
- Charlotte Anne Nakakaawa-Jjunju
- Maria I.M. Febri
Members of research project from NTNU
External members of research project
BDU
- Dawit Asrat Getahun (team leader)
- Dereje Taje Wondem
- Mulugeta Awayehu
- Berie Gete
UJ
- Ben Salibaa Lagure (team leader)
- Bojoi Moses Tomor
- Angelina Bazugba
Advisors from NTNU
PhD-projects and supervisors
We are in the process of recruiting PhD candidates and supervisors to the project and will update this section as the project progress.