Scottish secondary schools and their links with developing countries: study

Appendix IV – Interview Guide

Global citizenship, part of Learning for Sustainability, is an important aspect of Scottish education. The International Development Team of the Scottish Government is interested in the kind of activities school undertake when it comes to global learning. They are particularly keen to learn more about school links with developing countries and trips made to these countries.

This research will provide a first exploration of school partnerships, in a secondary school context and this information will be used to guide and support further discussions on global learning, school partnerships and good practice within SG as well as with external partners and schools.

In this interview I would like to ask you some questions about your school link with a developing country. The questions are divided into 4 themes: the Partnership process; Partnership activities; Integration in school and community and the future of the partnership.

General information

• What school do you have a link with, and in what country?
• When was this link established?

Partnership – Process

To describe the process of setting up the partnership:

• What was the motivation of your school to establish a partnership?
• How and why did you choose this country and partner school?
• How was the first contact made?
• What is your role in this partnership?
• What resources did you use to help set up the partnership?
• Did you visit the partner school before setting up the partnership?
• What type of formal arrangements did you make (eg partnership agreement)?
• How did the communication go?
  • What kind of problems did you face? (eg. With technology, language, time)
• How were expectations about the partnership on both sides explored? Did they match and if no, how were they discussed?

Partnership – Activities

• What activities are covered in the partnership?
• Which activities do you feel are most important, and why?
• What are the difficulties in organising (shared) activities?
• If educational projects are shared, how are they set up? And what is the value of them for pupils and teachers?
• If fundraising is involved, what is the goal of the fundraising and how is it organised?
• How is fundraising linked to other global learning activities and partnership work?
• If visits are involved, how are they arranged and what activities are involved?
• How do pupils get involved in visits?
• What kind of fundraising is involved? And how important are these funds?
• What is the value of these visit for the pupils and teachers?

Integration in the school and community

• How does the partnership link to the wider global citizenship programme in your school?
• What role does the partnership play in everyday school life of the pupils? And does it also play a role in the wider community? (and How?)
• Do you feel the partnership is beneficial for your school and students? Why (not)?

Future of the partnership

• Has the partnership changed over time? How and why?
• How do you see the future of the partnership?
• Is there anything you would like to change about your partnership?