Dear colleagues and partners, I am pleased to welcome you to the first issue of our International Center Newsletter. This publication reflects the continued growth of our international academic partnerships and our commitment to meaningful global engagement in teacher education.
The International Center plays a key role in integrating innovative teaching practices from around the world, strengthening academic collaboration, and creating valuable opportunities for students and faculty to participate in international learning, cultural exchange, and research.
In this issue, you will find updates on new collaborations, exchange and mobility opportunities, intercultural initiatives, and upcoming international events on our campus. I invite you to explore these stories and join us on an ongoing journey of openness, curiosity, and innovation, as global engagement continues to shape the next generation of educators.
Prof. Ilana Levenberg
President at Gordon Academic College of Education, Haifa – Israel
Dear Partners and Colleagues, it is with great pleasure that I welcome you to the first edition of our International Center's Newsletter, a significant inaugural milestone in what we hope will become a meaningful tradition of shared knowledge, transparency, and partnership. As Gordon Academic College of Education continues to expand its global footprint, the year 2025 stands out as a year marked by remarkable collaborations, sustained growth, and tangible educational impact across continents.
At Gordon College, we hold a deep conviction that education has the power to improve our lives; this belief guides us in our daily work, even in the face of many challenges facing our local, regional and global communities, and it is what inspires us to build new partnerships, exchange knowledge, and advance innovative educational practices and research alongside colleagues and partners around the world.
In this issue, we are proud to highlight the major achievements of our International Center over the past year, including the successful completion of projects supported by the European Union, UNICEF, and the Ministry of Regional Cooperation. We also share updates on ongoing initiatives, among them our ongoing EU Capacity Building in Higher Education projects, our work with the Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Boston to strengthen special education in Ukraine, and our expanding teacher-training programs for Jewish schools in the Diaspora. This newsletter also features a selection of thought and hope-provoking success stories of academic and educational collaborations.
Looking ahead, we present several newly awarded projects scheduled to launch soon, among them a regional "Peace Building through Education" Lab, as well as our broader vision for the coming year.
As always, our goal is to advance high-quality, socially responsible education through global partnerships rooted in trust, creativity, and shared purpose.
We extend our deepest gratitude for your continued collaboration and invite you to join us in shaping the next chapter of international educational innovation.
May the new year bring dialogue, understanding, and collective progress across borders!
Dr. Eli Vinokur Vice President for Strategy & Academic Development Head of the International Center Gordon Academic College of Education, Haifa – Israel
🏆 2025 Achievements Overview
Our international activity reached new levels in 2025, with growth in mobility, partnerships, and major project milestones. Here are some of this year's key accomplishments.
An Erasmus+ project coordinated by GRNET. The project supports adults – teachers, parents, and guardians – in understanding the challenges children face online and in promoting safe, responsible digital behavior.
UNICEF Montenegro – Assessment of the Teachers' Professional Development System in Montenegro
Together with the University of Montenegro, Gordon College supported, through this assignment, Montenegro's Ministry of Education and the Bureau for Education in developing a stronger, needs based national system for mentoring and teacher professional development. The assessment provides a foundation for meaningful improvements in teacher growth and support across the country.
Shared Challenges in Early Childhood Education; Israel, Georgia & Montenegro
This project, funded by the Israeli Ministry of Regional Cooperation, brought together early childhood education teams from Israel, Georgia, and Montenegro to explore shared and unique challenges, including inclusive education and support for children with special needs. The teams met in Montenegro and Israel, visited kindergartens, and held collaborative workshops. Following the project’s completion, the partners are now developing a joint research study.
Research on Hate Speech Against Journalists in Times of Conflicts.
Gordon College was selected by UNICEF Zambia as an international consultant to support the development of a national strategy for teacher education and training. Working in partnership with the University of Zambia, Gordon College experts conducted a comprehensive system wide assessment of pre-service and in-service teacher development. The consultancy resulted in the Zambian National Teacher Education and Training Strategy, which was formally validated by the Ministry of Education and its key stakeholders.
Summer Hebrew Course
Funded by the Israeli Ministry of Regional Cooperation, hosted 18 students from Greece, Azerbaijan, and Bulgaria for an intensive two month program in Hebrew language and multicultural education. Participants studied four days a week and took part in cultural tours and workshops, gaining exposure to Israel’s diverse communities and social landscape.
America Hub Israel – Educational Innovation Initiatives
Modular Workshops on Democracy and U.S. Values (2024–2025) This project delivered a series of modular workshops focusing on democratic principles, civic engagement, and U.S. values. Through interactive and discussion-based formats, participants explored contemporary challenges to democracy and innovative pedagogical approaches for teaching civic education.
Technology & Maker Space Workshops (2024–2025) This initiative focused on hands-on learning through educational technology and maker space methodologies. Participants engaged with creative, technology-enhanced pedagogies designed to foster innovation, problem-solving skills, and experiential learning in educational settings.
🔄 Ongoing Projects and Current Work
Our current portfolio includes multi-year Erasmus+ and international projects that deepen our global impact and pedagogical innovation.
eTACCHE – eTwinning Across Cultures: Collaborative Heritage Education
An Erasmus+ KA220 coordinated by the University of Ludwigsburg in Germany. The project aims to integrate eTwinning into teacher education to strengthen digital literacy, intercultural competence, and cultural heritage learning. Through cross-border collaboration, innovative project kits, VR environments, and teacher training, the project embeds sustainable, technology-enhanced pedagogy into Initial Teacher Education.
IMPACT – Inter-Mediterranean Peace And CollaboraTion
Coordinated by the Hellenic Mediterranean University in Crete, this project brings together higher education institutions, youth organizations, and technology partners from Europe, Israel, and Morocco to promote intercultural dialogue and soft skills development. Through accredited COIL modules, virtual exchanges, and innovative digital tools, the project advances transferable, future oriented learning models validated through ECTS, micro credentials, and blockchain based certification.
MANDELA – Multilateralism through Negotiation and Cultural Diplomacy Education in the Levant and Africa
An Erasmus+ CBHE project, coordinated by Sakhnin College in Israel, that aims to strengthen higher education in Israel, Ghana, and Ethiopia by training academic staff to integrate cultural diplomacy, negotiation, conflict resolution, and Value & Knowledge Education into curricula. Through innovative pedagogies and COIL courses, the project enhances intercultural dialogue, civic competences, and student employability while promoting inclusive and resilient academic communities.
HOPE- Higher Education for Openness, Peace, and Empathy
An Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education project coordinated by the Hellenic Mediterranean University in Crete. The project positions universities as key agents of peacebuilding, dialogue, and constructive conflict resolution. Through a joint peace education curriculum, blended and virtual exchanges, and cross-border collaboration between European and Israeli institutions, HOPE strengthens institutional capacity and equips future educators and students with the skills, values, and competencies needed to foster empathy, inclusion, and social cohesion.
Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Boston: Special Needs Initiative
Since 2002, Gordon College has been an active partner in a tri-city initiative linking Haifa, Boston, and Dnipro, aimed at developing innovative educational tools and therapeutic approaches to support children with disabilities at the Special Needs Center of the Jewish Community Center in Dnipro. As part of this long standing collaboration, Gordon College has led numerous professional missions to Ukraine for on-site training, complemented by ongoing live online workshops that continued and expanded the training provided in person.
Capacity Building of the Hebraica Schools of Mexico
Since 2020, Gordon College has been leading a comprehensive wellbeing intervention at Colegio Hebreo Tarbut, a leading private Jewish school in Mexico City. The initiative aims to strengthen the wellbeing of both educational staff and students, spanning all stages of learning, from early childhood (6 months) through grade 12, and addressing both psychological needs and cutting-edge social pedagogy. Our work engages the school's psychology teams, subject coordinators, pedagogical directors, and leadership teams across all divisions (early childhood, elementary, middle, and high school), in close collaboration with the institution’s senior management. The intervention combines weekly online guidance sessions with dedicated professional teams, empowering them to become internal leaders of the wellbeing process, alongside several annual in-person visits to Mexico that deepen the work and help ensure long-term, sustainable impact.
The International Program for Jewish Teacher Development and Educational Leadership in the Diaspora
Gordon College is also leading a major international teacher education initiative funded by the Israeli Ministry of Education and the Ministry for Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism. The project aims to strengthen the relationship between Jewish communities worldwide and Israel through a comprehensive, year long academic and professional training program for diaspora teachers in Jewish history, Hebrew language, Jewish culture, Jewish thought, and Jewish life. The program also cultivates educational leadership, pedagogical innovation, and teacher entrepreneurship within participating schools. Gordon College has been awarded two such projects, offered in both English and French, and currently leads training programs with the Schneour School, part of the Chabad educational network in Aubervilliers near Paris- France, as well as with the King David Schools network in Johannesburg, South Africa, supporting their vision of becoming the best Jewish school in the world. The training model includes research based needs assessment, weekly online learning sessions, and an immersive summer semester in Israel, creating a rich and sustained framework for professional growth and strengthened Jewish identity.
🚀 Projects Launching Soon
New initiatives scheduled to begin in the coming year will further expand our regional and international collaboration.
Interpersonal Listening and Cosmopolitan Attitudes: A Cross-Cultural Research Project
Funded by the Israeli Ministry of Regional Cooperation, this project brings together academic partners from Israel, Greece (University of Crete), and Georgia (Black Sea University) in a shared effort to advance cross-cultural research and regional cooperation. The partnership is built on close collaboration between research teams, joint methodological design, coordinated data collection, and continuous academic exchange throughout all stages of the study.
A regional researchers' meeting hosted at Gordon College in Haifa will support alignment of research tools, shared training, and the development of a common research language among the partners. The project is designed to generate joint publications, conference presentations, and future collaborative proposals under international funding frameworks, serving as both a research initiative and a platform for sustained academic cooperation and capacity building across the region.
🌍 International Engagement & Academic Connections
International collaboration does not always require large budgets or long distance travel. It's about connecting people with shared interests and a commitment to learn from one another.
Six Months of Collaboration, One Shared Learning Experience
In December 2025, a six-month partnership between Gordon College, the University of Passau (Germany), and the University of Szczecin (Poland) culminated in a joint online session. Using real-time multilingual captioning, students explored AI in education, its potential, and ethical challenges.
Dr. Ariella Levenberg noted: "This partnership allowed students to learn not only about innovation in education, but with one another. Seeing them engage across languages and cultures is exactly what international education should look like."
Academic Expertise as a Bridge for International Collaboration
In December 2025, a joint session with Alte University in Tbilisi, Georgia, featured a lecture by Mr. Avihu Sofer, Head of Gordon's Simulation Center. The session highlighted opportunities to expand simulation-based learning, leading to a planned faculty visit to Gordon College.
The Yavne Project: A German–Israeli Collaboration on Memory and Identity
The "Yavne" Project, a collaboration with KATHO University in Cologne and the Yavne Archive, aims to preserve the legacy of the Yavne School. Led by Chancellor Bernward Robrecht and Dr. Avital Hecht, the project is progressing toward a comprehensive academic volume.
⭐ Success Stories
These stories highlight how international education can foster resilience, dialogue, and hope in complex times.
Choosing Connection in Uncertain Times: The Hebrew Summer Course
In July-August 2025, the Hebrew Summer Course became a powerful story of resilience and trust. Just one month before the program was due to begin, regional escalation raised real doubts about whether it could take place at all. Yet, following the ceasefire and when the situation stabilized, every registered student chose to come. “We knew it might be complicated, but we felt this experience was too important to give up,” one participant shared.
With very short notice, the International Center rebuilt the program from the ground up. The result was an inspiring eight week journey for 16 students from three countries, who experienced Israeli culture through intensive Hebrew study, shared learning, and everyday encounters. “We didn’t just learn Hebrew,” another student reflected, “we learned how connection can overcome fear.”
Education as a Bridge in Challenging Times: The Peacebuilding Lab
At a time of profound challenges in the Middle East, the selection of the Peacebuilding Lab project stands as a powerful success story and a testament to the role of education in fostering dialogue and hope. The project brings together youth organizations from Italy and Cyprus to work with Israeli, Jordanian, Lebanese, and Palestinian youth in a three year collaborative initiative that uses sport and experiential learning to promote intercultural understanding, empathy, and peaceful coexistence among young people from conflict affected regions.
Gordon Academic College of Education is proud and deeply committed to being part of this international consortium. The project reflects our belief that education can serve as a bridge across divides creating safe spaces for encounter, learning, and trust, even in the most complex contexts. The Peacebuilding Lab affirms that meaningful collaboration is not only possible, but essential, when it is grounded in shared human values and educational purpose. (PHOTO of map connecting the countries: italy, cyprus, israel, lebanon, jordan and The Palestinian territories- Nablus)
When Mobility Becomes Impact: From KA171 to Publication
A recent publication co-authored by Dr. Ronen Kasperski, Dr. Merav Esther Hemi (Gordon College), and Ewelina Świdrak (KUL) in Annals of Pedagogies demonstrates how mobility transforms into collaboration. What began as a dialogue evolved into a joint research initiative, highlighting how Erasmus+ generates concrete academic outcomes.
Our partners are invited to contribute to a Special Issue in Education Sciences on Social-Emotional Learning. Read more here: Special Issue Link.
🔮 Our Vision for 2026 and Beyond
As we look ahead to 2026, the International Center remains committed to positioning Gordon College as a regional and global leader in teacher education, social and technological innovation, and meaningful academic collaboration.
Our vision is rooted in excellence, equity, and sustainability, and in the belief that lifelong learning and intercultural competence are essential for educators in a rapidly changing world.
In the coming years, we will deepen and expand our international partnerships across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America. We aim to strengthen mobility opportunities for students, faculty, and administrative staff, while developing new pathways such as visiting scholars, administrative fellows, and joint PhD supervision. Digital collaboration, including COIL and hybrid courses, will play a central role in bringing global learning into our classrooms.
We will continue to lead and participate in major international projects, share Gordon’s expertise with educational systems worldwide, and integrate global perspectives into all teacher education programs. At the same time, we will enhance Gordon’s visibility through conferences, seminars, and international events.
Our vision for 2026 and beyond is one of openness, innovation, and shared responsibility building a stronger, more connected educational future together.
🤝 Invitation to Collaborate
We warmly invite our partners to continue building meaningful collaborations with us. We welcome joint work in mobility, COIL courses, KA2 initiatives, Horizon Europe, and research activities.
We look forward to creating new opportunities together.
📧 Stay in Touch
Thank you for your support and collaboration. We invite you to stay connected and follow our updates.
Dear colleagues and partners, I am pleased to welcome you to the first issue of our International Center Newsletter. This publication reflects the continued growth of our international academic partnerships and our commitment to meaningful global engagement in teacher education.
In December 2025, a joint session with Alte University in Tbilisi, Georgia, featured a lecture by Mr. Avihu Sofer, Head of Gordon's Simulation Center. The session highlighted opportunities to expand simulation-based learning, leading to a planned faculty visit to Gordon College.
