Even before the Bett Show UK To begin with, members of the Brazilian delegation at Bett Brasil They had a packed schedule of events in London on Monday (27) and Tuesday (28). They visited Ashcroft Academy, a public middle and high school in London, as well as King’s College and the Open University, two renowned higher education institutions in the United Kingdom. 

More than 150 people from various sectors of the education field are part of the Brazilian delegation at the Bett Show 2023. Adriana Martinelli, content director at Bett Brasil and the person in charge of organizing the visits, acknowledges that accommodating so many people and interests was a complex task, but believes the visits achieved their objectives.

“The size of the delegation was a surprise, but connections are being made. That’s part of Bett’s DNA: bringing people together through events to foster learning, projects, and business,” says Adriana. 

The participants enjoyed the experience of learning about other realities. “This part of the event is really interesting because it allows us to share some of the initiatives we’re working on and learn about new educational projects,” says Andrei Amaral, project manager at the National Network for Education and Research (RNP).

They also believe that these moments can help close new deals. “The networking was very interesting; I was able to understand who does what and what kind of collaboration I can have with each person, with a view to doing business,” says Bianca Zancaner, an entrepreneur at a startup.  

The English Approach to Education

At Ashcroft Academy, the Brazilians were able to observe parts of English, math, and science classes, as well as talk with coordinators and teachers. The high standards for student behavior were one of the aspects that stood out the most. Strict rules regarding punctuality, dress, and language help create an environment conducive to learning, according to Lisa Armstrong, who coordinates the science teachers. “Recently, a student asked me why I’m not strict. I replied that it’s because I don’t need to be; my students behave very well,” she said.

At King’s College, where they were welcomed by Arthur Galamba, a Brazilian who serves as director of the graduate program that trains science teachers at the institution, the delegation members learned how initial teacher training works in the United Kingdom: people with a wide variety of degrees enroll in a one-year graduate program, 30 percent of which consists of practical training in elementary schools. “But the first major difference compared to Brazil comes before the program even begins: there’s a rigorous selection process,” explains Galamba. 

The visit to the Open University was an opportunity to explore the concepts of open education, presented by researcher Alexandra Okada, who is also Brazilian. “According to the definition we’ve been using, open education requires a partnership between schools and society, starting with something that matters to students and leading to action. It goes far beyond access to open content,” she said. The Open University, which offers distance learning courses, is the United Kingdom’s largest institution of higher education in terms of student enrollment. 

Follow the Bett Blog to learn all about Brazil's participation in the Bett Show UK, the world's largest event for education and technology, taking place March 29–31.

 

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