Vienna, 11 March 2025 – The workshop, held by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Austria and United Nations Information Service (UNIS) Vienna, in cooperation with the University College of Teacher Education in Vienna (PH Wien), focused on exploring a variety of educational tools and methods aimed at making these subjects more engaging and accessible in the classroom.
As part of an informative introduction, participants went on a guided VIC tour, to find out more about the United Nations and in particular the Vienna-based organizations. Following a brief overview of the architectural design of the UN headquarters in Vienna, they also visited conference rooms and other key areas.
After the tour, teachers were introduced to offers for school classes from UNIS Vienna’s Visitors Service and the methods that tour guides use to actively engage students with the Sustainable Development Goals and human rights.
The session continued with a short introduction to the work of UNHCR in Austria and worldwide , covering key aspects of humanitarian aid related to asylum, displacement, and refugee protection. This was complemented by showcasing educational materials, such a handbook for teachers created in collaboration with trauma education experts.
Following this, UNIS Vienna gave an introduction to teaching material and multimedia tools for exploring the Sustainable Development Goals. Audiovisual materials, apps, and games were among the tools presented.
The workshop concluded with small group discussions to explore how these topics and tools could be effectively integrated into teaching and what methods would be most suitable.
Participants found the range of teaching resources valuable and were enthusiastic about the multiple ways they could be applied in the classroom. With the guided tour in mind, they explored how these materials could be seamlessly paired with an on-site visit to further enhance the educational experience.
