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Meeting
in Finland 8th - 12th June 2011 |
 Workshop
1 - In Turku Adult Education Centre
The first
workshop was used to introduce the project partners to the work and
educational programme of the TuAKK.
At this presentation there was a special emphasis on the work being done
in the area of immigrant training
and other meausures aimed at the prevention of segragation in Turku.
Workshop
2 - Preparation of the Interim Report
A contractual obligation of this project is that each partner must submit
an interim report to their respective national agency.This workshop concentrated on
completing the comon sections of the interim report as well as allowing an
opportunity to evaluate the progress of the project to date.
Workshop 3 - In Winnova
The focus of this workshop was on the areas of guidance and counselling in
Winnova. As a practical demonstration Varikko-workshop was taken as a case
study and it's role within the education system, its methods of operation,
student profile and facilities were explained in detail.
Workshop 4 - Educational measures to help the disadvantaged
This
workshop was streamed live to each of the partner colleges using the
Facebook Ustream facility. While there were some difficulties with sound
it was the first attempt at relaying the project presentations live online
and we plan to carry out similar activities at future meetings. Firstly we
examined the percentage of adults in education. This varied from country
to country with Scandanavia being particularly good and Hungary having a
low participation rate. It is more common in Hungary for adults with high
levels of previous education to take up other courses where as in other
countries eg. Belgium adults with lower previous education are more likely
to engage with the education system. Disadvantaged people in Hungary
receive higher points for access to higher education, a social scholarship
is available. The position of the Gypsy minority in Hungary was also
discussed, Is segregation or integration in education of this minority
better! There is a central program managed by Gypsy authority and
NGOs.
In Estonia there is targeted career counselling for groups seen to be at
risk, this leads to individual centred guidance. Career services in
Estonia are mainly provided by the labour office. There is also a state
integration program which amongst other work provides language training
for different target groups. In Finland a key provision of the education
system is that there are no dead ends, all education has a clear
progression route. In Ireland the government operate a number of schemes
to encourage adults who have become unemployed to return to education.
These include the Vocational Training Opportunities scheme, Back to
Education Initiative and the provision of maintenance grants. In Belgium
there are Wallonian literacy courses, centres of expression and creativity
and informal education provision through libraries, cultural centres etc.
In Germany an attempt is made to prevent second generation disadvantage
through the provision of special kindegarten where disadvantaged 3 to 6
year old children are taught in small groups. There are also special
schools for children, from 6 to 15 years of age, with learning
difficulties.
Workshop 5 - Presentation about the Finnish Education System
This
workshop was used to give a holistic overview of the Finnish education
system and to allow partners to draw parallels or differences between the
Finnish system and that of their own countries.
Other Activities
The social programme during this meeting included Sauna and swimming, a
tour of old Rauma (a UNESCO world heritage site) and a boat trip to Kylmäpihlaja
island.
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