Jagiellonian University is the oldest university in Poland, established in 1364. Within the university the JU Teachers Training Centre has been developed to provide generic courses in the areas of pedagogy, psychology, philosophy, while the faculties within the university are responsible for individual subject methodology and organization of teaching practice. JU has a long tradition of chemistry teacher training with over 200 years experience. The Faculty of Chemistry (FCJU) expertise covers full spectrum of activities proposed in the ESTABLISH project, in particular; teachers training; preparation of textbooks and exercise books both for lower secondary level (“gimnazjum”) and for upper secondary level (“liceum”); development of innovative curricula and didactic materials for teachers (guide-books for teachers, multimedia etc.); and publication and distribution of “NIEDZIALKI” - a national chemistry journal for teachers and students (http://www.cpe.fr/ectn-assoc/archives/lib/2006/N01/200601_LinksSchool_Ex...)
FCJU also prides itself in stimulating teachers’ training activities both locally and globally, at all levels:
- institutional (JU) – promotion of interfaculty cooperation in teachers training
- regional – through Malopolska Educational Forum consisting of higher education institutions, regional school inspectorate and local self-government
- national – through Division of Chemical Education of the Polish Chemical Society and the Polish Association of Science Teachers
- international – through
Role in the Project: JU will contribute to the ESTABLISH project through; identification of teaching and learning inquiry-based materials based on relevance to current industry and research in science (WP3); preparation, testing, evaluation and dissemination of project materials (pre-service and in-service teachers training) (WP4 & 5); dissemination (WP9) and facilitating links and cooperation with the Polish Chemical Society, the Polish Association of Science Teachers, the Polish Chamber of Chemical Industry, publishing house Zamkor, EuCheMS Division of Chemical Education and ECTN (WP2).