Global and intercultural dimensions in curriculum development

Global and intercultural dimensions in curriculum development are promoted at various levels in adult education and training. The teaching and use of foreign languages is, probably, the most common feature of internationalization. Foreign language courses are offered by the State Institutes of Further Education, the Adult Education Centres and the Evening Schools of the Ministry of Education and Culture. The Adult Education Centres, in particular, offer Greek language courses to Turkish Cypriots and Turkish language courses to Greek Cypriots free of charge.

Some other institutions use to invite foreign experts to offer lectures or seminars as part of their educational programs. This is the case with the Mediterranean Institute of Management, the Academy of Public Administration and university-level institutions.

Universities are also committed by their founding laws to admit foreign students and cooperate with foreign academic and scientific institutions.

Support measures provided for migrants at the school level are equally provided for migrants at the evening schools too.

The Pedagogical Institute offers in-service seminars on multicultural education, while the Open University offers courses on cultural heritage.

At the vocational training level, the European Credit Transfer System for Vocational Education and Training (ECVET) constitutes an important initiative expected to contribute to shaping the policies on skills and competencies development and to facilitate mobility and internationalization.

Partnerships and networks

Partnerships in adult education and training mainly take place through the Grundtvig - Transnational Partnerships sub-program of the Lifelong Learning Programme 2007-2013. Under this program, 20 public and private institutions participated in non-vocational adult and continuing education of two years, in the period 2009-2011.