Parties

The State of New South Wales, Australia, as represented by its Department of Education ("the Department")

and

The Ministry of Education of the Republic of Korea, as represented by the Korean Education Centre of the Korean Consulate General ("Korean Ministry")

Introduction

The department and the Korean Ministry, recognising the importance of supporting the teaching and learning of Korean in NSW government schools, have developed this Memorandum of Understanding ("Memorandum"). They intend to work collaboratively and individually in their support to achieve its objectives.

General objectives

The department and the Korean Ministry consider Korean to be a language of growing importance in NSW and agree that greater collaboration between both institutions will strengthen and increase the study of the Korean language in schools and colleges.

Through this Memorandum, the parties will promote their cooperation, collaboration, effective communication and the reciprocal facilitation of their objectives.. It builds on the existing strengths and collaborative activities of the two organisations and establishes a framework for that collaboration.

The Memorandum is not intended to create binding legal obligations on either party. The relationship between the parties is one of co-operation and mutual support.

Neither is a licensee, agent, partner or joint venturer of or with the other.

1. Specific objectives

• 1.1 Both parties will contribute to the implementation of Korean language and cultural programs in NSW government schools with a specific focus on the development of language proficiency, intercultural understanding and the provision of professional learning to support the delivery of high quality teaching.
• 1.2 Both parties agree to:
  • a. identify opportunities for greater alignment and improved efficiency and effectiveness across existing programs in order to strengthen learning pathways for Korean from Kindergarten to Year 12;
  • b. explore opportunities for a program of short-term exchange, where Australian teachers of Korean would have opportunities to visit Korea and Korean teachers and teaching assistants would be placed in schools in NSW;
  • c. explore the provision of online courses and digital resources to increase the study of Korean in NSW schools.

2. The department's role

The department, within the limits of available resources, will support the teaching and learning of Korean in NSW by providing:

• 2.1 support for NSW students studying Korean from Kindergarten to Year 12;
• 2.2 an area on a departmental website for the dissemination of information on the teaching and learning of Korean, including information from the Korean Education Centre;
• 2.3 advertisement and promotion of scholarship opportunities for teachers, the recommendation of prospective recipients and financial support, depending on available funding, towards travel expenses;
• 2.4 professional learning for teachers of Korean and study events for students of Korean in NSW schools;
• 2.5 development and distribution of resources for Korean;
• 2.6 support for sister school relationships between schools in NSW and schools in Korea;
• 2.7 support for the NSW Korean Language Teachers' Association.

3. The Korean Ministry's role

• 3.1 Support for educational improvement initiatives related to curriculum development and implementation, second language acquisition, bilingual education, exchange programs, as well as any other collaborative efforts established under this Memorandum.
• 3.2 Support for teacher professional development, visits to schools and advisory services to the teachers of Korean in NSW:
  • a. financial support through the Plant-a-School Program to seed and sustain Korean language programs in NSW schools. Funds will be paid to the department for distribution to mutually agreed schools;
  • b. the use and loan of Korean teaching materials from the resource centre of the Korean Education Centre;
  • c. opportunities for NSW teachers and students to be immersed in the language and culture of Korea;
  • d. support for the NSW Korean Language Teachers' Association.

4. Duration, revision and termination of the Memorandum

• 4.1 The Memorandum will commence on the date of signature by both parties and will operate until 31 December 2021.
• 4.2 The Memorandum may be renewed at the end of its term, by agreement .
• 4.3 The parties, by agreement, may revise and vary the terms of this Memorandum, at any time during its operation. Any variation must be in writing and signed by both parties.
• 4.4 This Memorandum may be terminated by one party giving to the other thirty (30) days' notice in writing.

5. Correspondence

• 5.1 All correspondence for the department in relation to this Memorandum should be directed to the Director, Secondary Education, Learning and Teaching Directorate, NSW Department of Education, Locked Bag 53, Darlinghurst 1300 NSW.
• 5.2 All correspondence for the Korean Ministry in relation to this Memorandum should be directed to the Education Director, Korean Education Centre, Consulate-General of Republic of Korea, Suite 601, Level 6, 287 Elizabeth St, Sydney NSW 2000.

6. Further agreements

This Memorandum signifies the department's and the Korean Ministry's commitment to work together. The specific details of each project or activity arising out of this Memorandum will be the subject of separate agreements between the two organisations, or parts of the organisations, as appropriate.

7. Other agreements and relationships

Subject to any other agreements or relationships not adversely affecting the development and delivery of collaborative projects, nothing in this Memorandum precludes a relationship between either organisation and any other party, between the two organisations jointly and any other party, or requires that either organisation approves or endorses any other relationship.

8. Confidentiality

Both parties agree that information exchanged between the parties under this Memorandum shall be treated as strictly confidential by the receiving party and shall not be divulged under any circumstances to a third party without the written consent of the originator.

Any termination of this Memorandum does not negate the obligation of the parties with respect to the protection or use of information received prior to termination of the Memorandum. These obligations shall continue for a period of three (3) years from termination of the Memorandum.

9. Dispute resolution

The parties to this Memorandum expressly agree to endeavour in good faith to settle any dispute.

Signed by the parties on 9/12/2016:

Signed for and on behalf of the State Of NSW by its Department of Education by:

Liliana Mularczyk

Director, Secondary Education Learning and Teaching Directorate NSW Department of Education

Date: 9 December 2016

In the presence of:

Elisabeth Robertson

Coordinator, Languages and Culture, Learning and Teaching Directorate

Signed for and on behalf of the Korean Ministry of Education by:

[Name/signature of third party removed]

Signature of Delegate of Korean Ministry

[Name/signature of third party removed]

Education Director, Korean Education Centre

In the presence of:

[Name/signature of third party removed]

Signature of Witness

[Name/signature of third party removed]

Representative of the Consul General of Republic of Korea in Sydney