A WEE COUNTY teacher is urging colleagues to take part in a professional and personal development experience which is influencing her lessons.

As part of her Global Learning Partnerships (GLP) experience, Emily Robinson, who is a teacher at Redwell primary in Alloa, spent the summer in Uganda working alongside education professionals in host communities to improve the learning and teaching experience.

A term on from her placement, she is urging others to take part in the programme as it opens applications for its 2019 programme.

Emily said: "GLP is a unique, and invaluable experience through which you will learn to develop skills which you don't even realise you have.

"It is an unmissable opportunity to spend time immersed in and learning from another culture in a sustainable and purposeful way, as you share collegiately with teachers in East Africa.

"You get to be part of a network of global teachers who will inspire and challenge your professional and personal development."

Emily is now promoting global citizenship in her classroom, encouraging critical enquiry and supporting pupils to think in a more resourceful, problem-solving manner.

She added: "GLP has made me more conscious of how I can develop my pupils' critical thinking skills across the curriculum."

GLP has challenged and empowered 86 Scotland-based educators with an authentic learning experience increasing confidence, resilience and resourcefulness.

Georgea Hughes, GLP programme manager, said: "Meaningful global education is essential for the prosperity of our planet.

"There has never been a greater need to develop young people's understanding of their responsibility to actively contribute towards a more equitable and sustainable world."

More than 20 practitioners will be invited to join the GLP network in 2019. It is managed and majority-funded by The Wood Foundation, which includes a month spent in Rwanda or Uganda and several interventions pre and post-travel.

The partnership works with ethical local organisations IEE Rwanda and Redearth Education to build the capacity of education professionals within host countries.

Through community-based placements, GLP facilitates the sharing of knowledge, ideas and best practice to support improvements in teaching and learning within a local context.

Applications and more information are available at glpscotland.org.uk

The application period is active until January 11, 2019.

Applicants will be interviewed and those selected for the programme will have training weekends in March and May before travelling to Rwanda or Uganda in July.