Standing as Candidate for Secretary General of ISfTE, April 2015:

Globality, Democracy and Equality

Karen Bjerg Petersen
Dr. Karen Bjerg Petersen, Ass. Professor, Department of Education, Aarhus University, Denmark. Participation at ISfTE annual seminars and
member since 2006.

Editor of Jiste 2011-2015.

The first time I participated at an ISfTE

annual seminar was in 2006 in South Africa. It was
an exciting, interesting and wonderful experience,
which I wanted to repeat. And, I have repeated
numerous times.
I participated at all annual seminars of
ISfTE since 2006. In Scotland 2007, Australia
2008, USA 2009, Brazil 2010, Norway 2011,
Bhutan 2012, Hong Kong 2013, Turkey 2014 and, I
will attend the seminar in USA in 2015.
In 2010 in Brazil, professor Sybil Wilson, a
dedicated member and former editor of JISTE,
from Brock University, Canada asked me to take
on the role as the future editor of JISTE.
Since 2011, Peggy Saunders from Weber
State University, USA and I have formed a team
and published 9 issues of JISTE. When we started,
JISTE was a printed journal; we have transformed
the journal to a respected electronic research
journal, accredited in bibliographical indexes (in

Ulrichs and in other databases) in countries

throughout the world.
Since 2010, I have been a member of the
Executive Board of ISfTE, and as such I have a
thorough knowledge of the society, its challenges
and possibilities.
An example of a challenge is developing and
building the membership by drawing in new
members globally that contribute to the diversity
of the association, especially those at the
beginning stages of their careers and graduate
students who would like to connect with
experienced mentors.
I plan to work closely with other dedicated
members of ISfTE to engage in conversations to
create an agreed upon vision for the future of our
organization. I believe that communication is
essential for the advancement of our organization
and will take advantage of the opportunities that
technologies offer to keep in communication with
the membership for input in the workings of the
association outside of the yearly meetings.

My experience in and with ISfTE

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In my opinion ISfTE the society of

international teacher educators - is unique
compared to any other society I know. Most
societies are based in single countries, regions or
parts of the world.
What I have come to appreciate is the
globality of this particular organization. The
opportunity to come together to work, talk,
discuss and present ideas and research with so
many different teacher educators from such a
vast number of countries is both a privilege and
an important educational experience. ISFTE is an
association that makes it possible for educators
and researchers to work across differences
including contextual, disciplinary, and cultural. As
a non-English native speaker, I am particularly
aware of the importance of having opportunities
to work with colleagues from different areas of
the world.
As a future SG of ISfTE I will work for
genuine globality that reflects diversity in all
aspects of the association including the
membership and individuals working for the
membership in the running of the organization.

In times, when teachers and teacher
educators throughout the world are struggling
with many challenges, locally and globally, I find it
important to emphasize the close ties between
education and democracy! John Dewey was
aware of this 100 years ago. As researchers,
teacher educators, teachers and teacher
innovators we still have some work to do!
In a society of teacher educators like ISfTE,
democracy is of immense importance. As a future
SG I will stand up for democracy in the
management, and in the ways of handling
challenges.

We know that much has been done to
obtain equality in teacher education, teaching
and education. As the editor of JISTE, I am happy
to have seen how many teacher educators men
and woman - from all over the world have
submitted articles to our journal. As a woman,

who had to fight for my position, I am aware of
and appreciate genuine equality. As a future SG
for ISfTE I will work for equality for all members
of the society.

How to reach the goals?

I will develop the globality of the
organization
x by supporting various global networks, based
on member interest
x by taking more advantage of information
technology
x by considering a multilingual approach
x by encouraging interested members to
establish locally associated organizations
x by using information technology for executive
board meetings between the annual seminars
in order for the organization to work
smoothly

I will develop the democracy of the organization
x by ensuring the organization - in accordance
with the bylaws reflect the variety of
members and interests
x by ensuring that the executive committee and
other commitiees of ISfTE are genuinely
democratic
x by supporting the ideas and values in
democracy of discussion, negotiation and
decision

I will develop the equality of the organization
x by taking advantage of the extensive
experience and knowledge of both members,
^'including members
from all over the world
x by introducing peer and supporting groups
x by developing new and better communication
lines in the organization

My visions:
GLOBALITY, DEMOCRACY and EQUALITY

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Challenges of the ISfTE Management

While we continue to enjoy the yearly
seminars and the collegiality that has grown over
the decades for ISTFE members, at this moment
in time our organization is facing many challenges
that cross multiple aspects of the running of the
association including: communications, website,
membership lists and finances. If elected, I will,
with the help of the membership, address these
issues in comprehensive ways during my term.

Based on discussions, negotiations and
decisions, as the future SG, I will stand up for
ISfTE ^'before me and, use
the constitution and values of ISfTE - globality,
democracy and equality to address the
challenges and to move our association forward
in a way that builds upon our strengths and leads
to a growing, vital membership that is ready to
address the issues of the future in teacher
education and research.
.

Standing as Candidate for SG of ISfTE 2015-2018

Karen Bjerg Petersen

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Globality Democracy - Equality