Teachers' perception of equality should reflect the fiction they choose and what effect this will have in school teaching. The general aim is to investigate how reading literary text can be used as a means to influence and change students' perception of equality. Our school essay intends to answer the following questions, - What is the students' perception of equality? - How does the meeting with the fiction influence the students' perceptions of equality on the basis of culture and gender? The method we have used in this study is a qualitative research method with group discussion as a tool. Through the impact study, we examine how students discuss and reflect about their thoughts from reading fiction. We have listened to and transcribed for the essay important details of the talks. Our theoretical connection consists of the Russian language philosopher and literary theorist, Mikhail Bakhtin, which assumes that human existence is fundamentally dialogic and argue that the individual exists and develops in communicating with other people. Our results from group discussions show that fictions can usefully be used as an educational adjunct in school teaching to promote students' perception and understanding within a given topic. Fiction texts animate life situations and problems that make it possible for students to familiarize themselves in. Our results of the impact study also indicates that students' perceptions can be changed through discussion around the reading. The individual reading arouses students' thoughts and understanding of both themselves as to the world that in the latter interaction with other team members demonstrate advanced abilities to highlight new knowledge. We also found examples where either explicitly confirm or deny the talks so as to develop students understanding and ability to reflect on the experience of reading in relation to reality. The results also show that talks about the reading helps students to develop an understanding of both the text's meaning as its content and purpose. It therefore leads us into the knowledge of the text value and importance of the choice of lit erature. To allow such a practical purpose as possible with the reading of literature requires both experience and planning of the election in order to achieve the greatest possible knowledge for the students'.

This synopsis discusses how and why Swedish art education ought to focus on teaching visual literacy from a glocal perspective. The aim is to position Swedish art education in a glocal, multi- and intercultural context. Searches were conducted mainly on LibSearch, as well as Google Scholar. Limitations were set to 2000, and peer-reviewed material only. Sources from Sweden, Europe and the USA, dealing directly or indirectly with visual literacy, were included.The results suggest that visual literacy may be taught through graphic novels, advertisements, public art, blogs and activities with peer-assessment. Critical multicultural pedagogy, visual rubrics and transparency in assessment processes are also suggested to strengthen visual literacy. It is concluded that visual literacy may aid students’ critical understanding and awareness of visual media in a multi-, intercultural and glocal visual world. To be visually literate may give them ability to critically participate in visual culture as democratic and empathic global citizens. Further research on how teachers and students use and understand visual literacies in Swedish art education is needed.

This study is an attempt to discuss and reflect over which cultures that are present in the reading material in the English language education in the years four to six at in a school outside of Malmö. The concept of culture is discussed from an educational perspective. The cultures present in the learners reading material and the teachers perspective on foreign cultures is also discoursed. Relevant previous research is highlighted and used to examine the collected material. The data is collected from interviews with three middle school teachers and from an analysis of the reading material that is used in the English education. The results reveal that British or American culture is heavily over-represented. The three teacher’s education is based almost solely on the textbook and therefore the textbook is given great mandate on which cultures that are present in the classroom. The results led to the argumentation that the English education in Sweden ought to be challenged. The endonormative perspective that places a clear emphasize on the native speaking norm, and revolves around inner circle cultures in the English classroom does not suffice as a foundation for our young learners. To solely focus on an English or American context will not prepare our pupils for the global challenges that lies ahead. English as an international language is spoken in all the corners of the world and all these corners ought to be invited into our classroom.

The purpose of this study is to analyse the cultural content and representations in three English as a second language textbooks published for Swedish students in years 1-3. The issue of cultural content is very visible in contemporary research on English education today and as English has grown into a global language over centuries, it has also become a culturally diverse language. The method used in this study is a merge of Critical Discourse Analysis and Multimodality with a norm critical perspective, using a chart developed within the study as an analytical tool. This study reveals that the textbooks on the one hand consist of a dominant Anglo-American, as well as a Swedish cultural setting where representations of white normative children and adults dominate the text and illustrations. On the other hand, the books show signs of trying to involve a developed perspective on English as an international language (EIL) and interculturality. However, these EIL and intercultural features are probably not enough to help the students who will use these books to develop the intercultural awareness needed later in life when they use their acquired English knowledge with other English speakers across the world.

[ES] En el contexto actual en el cual las distancias entre países se han reducido sustancialmente y la movilidad se ha incrementado a un ritmo vertiginoso, las sociedades se han tenido que adaptar a nuevos términos como "choque de culturas" e "interculturalidad", los cuales intentan dar cabida a este nuevo formato de encuentro entre culturas que se produce a diario y en todos los ámbitos de la vida. En consecuencia, el objetivo general de esta tesis es establecer si a los alumnos de Educación Superior se les imparte la formación sobre las competencias transversales, incluida la competencia intercultural. Para ello, se ha realizado un análisis de los diversos currículos de las 30 universidades más importantes de España, determinando el grado y la redacción de las mismas, valorando las definiciones sobre las competencias transversales que se imparten en cada universidad, realizando una comparativa entre las mismas y reescribiéndolas de acuerdo con el contexto real del aula, basándose en las competencias definidas por Darla Deardorff (2006). De esta forma, se ha comprobado que el 53% de las universidades cuentan con un dossier, documento u otra publicación que recoge las competencias en cuestión, mientras el 47% restante no dispone de información específica al respecto. Asimismo, todas las competencias recogidas por los documentos de las universidades han tenido que ser reescritas parcialmente, mientras en una universidad las competencias han tenido que ser reescritas de forma íntegra. Es importante mencionar que gran parte de las competencias existentes destacan solo el trabajo en equipo y respeto, pero dejan de lado el componente intercultural dentro de las mismas, evidenciando así una falta de actualización entre estas competencias que no considera la incidencia de la globalización en la conformación de los equipos. Por lo tanto, se ha estimado indispensable la realización de una nueva redacción de las citadas competencias, especialmente considerando los resultados de la globalización y conexión global de la sociedad actual, además del modelo basado en competencias que propone el Plan Bolonia y que es común para gran parte de los países de la Unión Europea. / [CA] En el context actual en el qual, les distàncies entre països s'han reduït substancialment i la mobilitat s'ha incrementat a un ritme vertiginós, les societats s'han hagut d'adaptar a nous termes com ara "xoc de cultures" i "interculturalitat", els quals intenten incorporar aquest nou format de trobada entre cultures que es produeix diàriament i en tots els àmbits de les nostres vides. En conseqüència, l'objectiu general d'aquesta tesi és establir si als alumnes d'Educació Superior se'ls imparteix la formació sobre les competències transversals, inclosa la competència intercultural. Per això, s'ha realitzat un anàlisi dels diversos currículums de les 30 universitats més importants d'Espanya, determinat el grau, així com la redacció d'aquestes, valorant les definicions sobre les competències transversals que s'imparteixen en cada universitat, realitzant una comparativa entre aquestes i reescrivint-les d'acord amb el context real de l'aula, basant-se en les competències definides per Darla Deardorff (2006). D'aquesta manera, s'ha comprovat que el 53% de les universitats compten amb un dossier, document o una altra publicació que recull les competències en qüestió, mentre el 47% restant no disposa d'informació específica sobre aquest tema. Així mateix, totes les competències recollides pels documents de les universitats, han hagut de ser reescrites parcialment, mentre en una universitat les competències han hagut de ser reescrites de manera íntegra. És important esmentar que gran part de les competències existents destaquen només el treball en equip i respecte, però deixen de costat el component intercultural dins d'aquestes, evidenciant així una falta d'actualització entre aquestes competències que no consideren la incidència de la globalització en la conformació dels equips. Per tant, s'ha estimat indispensable la realització d'una nova redacció de les citades competències, especialment considerant els resultats de la globalització i connexió global de la societat actual, a més del model basat en competències que proposa el Pla Bolonya i que és comú per a gran part dels països de la Unió Europea. / [EN] In the current context in which, distances between countries have been substantially reduced and mobility has increased at a dizzying pace, societies have had to adapt to new terms such as "clash of cultures" and "interculturality", which try to accommodate this new format of encounter between cultures that occurs daily and in all areas of our lives. As a result, the general objective of this thesis is to establish whether students in higher education are taught training on transversal competences, including intercultural competence. To this end, it has been carried out an analysis of the various curricula of the 30 most important universities in Spain, and determined the degree, as well as the writing of them, valuing the definitions on the transversal competences that are taught in each university, making a comparison between them and rewriting them according to the real classroom context, based on the competences defined by Darla Deardorff (2006). In this way, it has been found that 53% of the universities have a dossier, document or other publication that includes the competences in question, while the remaining 47% do not have specific information about it. Furthermore, all the competences included in the documents of the universities had to be partially rewritten, while in one university the competencies had to be rewritten in their entirety. It is important to mention that most of the existing competences highlight only teamwork and respect, but leave aside the intercultural component within them, evidencing a lack of updating between these competences that does not consider the impact of globalization on the formation of teams. Therefore, it has been considered essential to rewrite these competences, especially considering the results of globalization and the global connection of today's society, in addition to the competency-based model proposed by the Bologna Plan, which is common to most of the countries of the European Union. / Izquierdo Fontestad, L. (2021). Propuesta para el desarrollo de las competencias interculturales de los futuros graduados [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/180117 / TESIS

Solicitud de envío manuscrito de artículo científico. / Esta investigación identifica los factores que influyen en el sistema de formación ciudadana democrática intercultural de niñas rurales en el Perú, así como los actores que lo afectan. La ciudadanía democrática intercultural promueve el reconocimiento y valoración de las identidades para el fortalecimiento de los derechos y deberes sociales a partir del diálogo intercultural. Para ello, se utilizó un diseño exploratorio y de enfoque cualitativo empleando algunas técnicas prospectivas conducentes a determinar los factores clave que resultan más influyentes y dependientes, revisados por un grupo de expertos en la temática. Los resultados indican que los factores clave para el sistema son: 1) deserción escolar, 2) jornada y clima escolar, 3) aprendizajes logrados, y 4) estrategias de aprendizaje dentro y fuera del aula. Asimismo, el Ministerio de Educación del Perú, que tiene la responsabilidad de mejorar la formación ciudadana de las niñas rurales, demostró ser el agente más influyente en el sistema. A partir de los resultados conviene indagar sobre las brechas de género entre los niños y niñas rurales en la formación de una ciudadanía democrática en la escuela y la construcción de una ciudadanía democrática intercultural específica en los diferentes contextos del Perú. / This research identifies the factors that influence the system of intercultural democratic citizen formation of rural girls in Peru and the actors that affect it. Intercultural democratic citizenship promotes the recognition and assessment of identities for the strengthening of social rights and duties through intercultural dialogue. To do this, an exploratory and qualitative approach design was used using some prospective techniques to determine the most influential and dependent key factors, reviewed by a group of experts in the field. The results indicate that the key factors for the system are: 1) school dropout, 2) school day and climate, 3) achieved learning and 4) learning strategies inside and outside the classroom. Likewise, the Ministry of Education of Peru, which has the responsibility of improving the citizen training of rural girls, proved to be the most influential agent in the system. Based on the results, it is appropriate to investigate the gender gaps between rural children in the formation of democratic citizenship in school and the construction of a specific intercultural democratic citizenship in the different contexts of Peru. / Tesis

Cultural traditions in indigenous peoples about maternity, childbirth and puerperium are fundamental bases to their history and knowledge for the well-being of the community. However, government and private health services in general only offer Western birthing practices, making pregnant indigenous women fall between two systems: one based on their traditions and beliefs but weakened by poor resourcing and inefficiencies, and the other by policies of acculturation. With the objective of studying the perspective and voice of indigenous women on maternal healthcare in Veracruz, Mexico, this research was carried out between December 2022 and February 2023 in a health organization which is implementing an intercultural maternal care system. The study subjects were made up of pregnant indigenous women and health providers who shared their perspective and experience on the topic through a process of individual interviews and surveys. As a result, this research opens space for Non-Western standpoints: indigenous voices, focused on the well-being and dialogue to draw on the strengths of different cultures.

BACKGROUND: All human societies have developed ways of maintaining health, dealing with illness and injury in ways that conform to their culture and environment. People worldwide draw upon a variety of healing systems, therapeutic methods, practices, and products, often referred to as Traditional and Complementary Medicine (T&CM). The World Health Organization (WHO) has encouraged member states to develop national policies that advance the integration of T&CM in national healthcare systems to harness their potential contribution to health, wellness, and people-centered health care. Yet, no global guidelines have been developed for assisting countries in structuring and developing such policies, and little is known about the characteristics of existing T&CM policies in Latin America and their level of implementation. METHODS: A qualitative research design was used to conduct a landscape analysis characterizing existing therapeutic pluralism policies in Latin American countries through a comprehensive literature review, a policy focused qualitative content analysis, key informant interviews and a case study analyzing the formulation process of Brazil's National Policy for Integrative and Complementary Health Practices (PNPICS). A technical cooperation tool to guide T&CM policy development and revision for Latin American countries was refined through face validation and an expert consensus method (Delphi process). Data categorization and analysis were performed in MS Excel and NVivo, using deductive and inductive coding. RESULTS: A total of 74 T&CM policy documents from the 16 Latin American countries were identified and characterized according to policy mechanisms. A typology of Latin American policy approaches identified policies as: health services-centered, model of care-based, participatory, and indigenous people-focused. Selection of T&CM practices for policy inclusion vary across countries; criteria change over time in Brazil might have compromised PNPICS’ political status. Lack of PNPICS financing jeopardized its implementation. A technical cooperation tool for T&CM policy development was structured on the policy cycle: national situation analysis, policy formulation, policy implementation, policy monitoring and evaluation, and policy re-formulation, re-prioritization for incremental policy developments. CONCLUSION: With a few exceptions, therapeutic pluralism policy implementation in Latin America seems to be a real challenge, often reducing policies to cultural and political symbols. Continued research is needed on assessing the various stages of the policy process in T&CM. / 2023-09-10T00:00:00Z

Multicultural literature can sometimes act as a window, a mirror or a sliding glass door that introduces people to different worlds that are real or unreal, familiar, or strange. Through these windows, the reader gets an insight into the lives of others, inviting readers to reflect on their views and environment. The purpose of this study is to understand how teachers include and work with multicultural literature for grades 4-6 in the Swedish subject, and how they describe and use multicultural literature in their teaching to endorse tolerance and critical consciousness. The study is based on a mixed-method approach, using a quantitative survey and a qualitative interview for indepth knowledge. The theoretical framework in this study is based on the intercultural perspective that includes central concepts such as interculturality, the intercultural pedagogical perspective, intercultural learning and intercultural competence. In summary, the result shows that there is a deficit of knowledge in how teachers can use multicultural literature in their teaching but also how they can work with intercultural learning. Based on the results from both the survey and the interviews, there is a good understanding among the respondents regarding the beneficial effect of including multicultural literature and the multicultural perspective in teaching, especially when choosing children's literature. However, there is a certain insecurity and inexperience of how to work with multicultural literature or intercultural learning, which reflects the scarcity of multicultural literature to students. Mainly because of poor access of what is classified as good quality multicultural books, but also because it is time-consuming to find the right books and activities, and a lack of a deeper intercultural pedagogical competence in the respondents.

Interkulturellt arbetssätt är givande för alla barn oavsett kulturell bakgrund. Det interkulturella arbetssättet bidrar till att barn utvecklar sin kulturella identitet och får förståelse för mångfalden i vårt samhälle. På förskolor där pedagogerna inte aktivt arbetar med interkulturalitet riskerar barn med utländsk bakgrund att bli exkluderade eller inte får kulturellt utrymme i förskolans utbildning. Det påverkar också barn med en svensk kulturell bakgrund, då de inte får  möjligheten att lära sig mer om andra kulturer än sin egen.  Syftet med studien är att bidra med kunskaper om hur förskollärare resonerar kring ett interkulturellt arbetssätt inom förskolans verksamhet. Datainsamlingen är av en kvalitativ ansats, där semistrukturerade intervjuer har använts för att samla empirin. Intervjuerna skedde både individuellt och i grupp. Totalt deltog nio förskollärare från fem olika förskolor i Sverige. Analysen omfattar det sociokulturella perspektivet och det interkulturella perspektivet för att få en större förståelse för de faktorer som påverkar förskollärarnas arbetssätt.  Resultatet visar att förskollärarna har ett interkulturellt förhållningssätt när de arbetar för att främja barns modersmåls utveckling och för att integrera olika kulturer i förskolans verksamhet. I mötet med familjer från andra länder lyfte förskollärarna fram olika faktorer att ta hänsyn till, vilket visade på deras interkulturella kompetens.  Det framkom även i studien att förskollärarna uttryckte att olika uppfattningar av kultur kan leda till kulturkrockar och kulturella begränsningar i förskolan. Förskollärarna upplevde det som en utmaning i arbetet med interkulturalitet. / The intercultural way of working contributes to children developing their cultural identity and gaining an understanding of the diversity in our society. In preschools where the pedagogues do not actively work with interculturality, children with a foreign background run the risk of being excluded or not given cultural space in the preschool's education. It also affects children with a Swedish cultural background, they do not get the opportunity to learn more about cultures other than their own.  The purpose of this study is to contribute with knowledge about how preschool teachers reason about intercultural working methods in preschool activities. The data collection is of a qualitative nature, where semi-structured interviews were conducted to gather empirical data. The interviews were conducted both individually and in groups. A total of nine preschool teachers from five different preschools in Sweden participated. The analysis incorporates a sociocultural perspective and the intercultural perspective to provide a detailed understanding of factors influencing preschool teachers' workings.  The study concludes that the preschool teachers have an intercultural approach when they work to promote children's mother tongue development, and to integrate different cultures in the preschool's activities. In the meeting with families from different countries, the preschool teachers highlighted different factors, which showed their intercultural competence. This study showed that the preschool teachers expressed that our different perceptions of culture can lead to cultural clashes and cultural limitations in preschool.  The preschool teachers perceived the work with interculturality as challenging.