The Graduate School of Education announced the renewal of its partnership with the University of Guadalajara.
The memorandum of understanding between the two schools, first signed five years ago, aims to improve literacy and civic participation. Student from both universities have presented at conferences, visited one another’s institutions, and conducted research together as a result of the partnership.
Penn GSE Dean Katherine Strunk said that the renewed partnership is focused on thinking about “how we do research with communities instead of to communities.”
“We need to ensure that we are bringing everyone’s voices to the table and valuing all the different stakeholders in our communities,” Strunk said. “We all have an important part to play in the research.”
From Oct. 14-15, GSE professor Gerald Campano, who also leads the partnership, hosted a two-day conference alongside University of Guadalajara professor Patricia Chávez on the connection between literacy and civic engagement. Around 27 people from Guadalajara attended the conference.
“Educators need to think transnationally because the lives and learning of our youth traverse political borders and social boundaries,” Campano said. “We are supporting them in researching their local contexts, to learn from their students’ experiences and continually identify ways to transform schools for the better."
Earlier this year, the partnership secured funding from Penn Global and launched the Penn Educational Alliance for Change and Equity, a Penn Global Research Institute that uses storytelling to improve education in marginalized communities. Fellows in the PEACE program travel to Mexico to conduct research in schools alongside Guadalajara faculty and make recommendations on advancing educational equity. The program culminates in fellows presenting their work at conferences at the University of Guadalajara as well as at various conferences in the United States.
“Literacy can help young people engage with the world,” Campano said. “This partnership is playing an important role in supporting youth and families in advocating for educational equity and access.”
The Daily Pennsylvanian is an independent, student-run newspaper. Please consider making a donation to support the coverage that shapes the University. Your generosity ensures a future of strong journalism at Penn.
Donate
