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Meeting
in Hungary 5th - 9th October 2011 |
 Workshop
1 - Supports for disadvantaged students
This workshop concentrated on examining
the practical supports in place to help disadvantaged students to fully
engage with the education system in each partner country. The host partner
currently has 49 students with disabilities and they outlined the
financial support available to provide facilities for these students and
to increase awareness of their needs. Their principals of equal treatment
for all students was stressed. In Ireland the needs of students from
disadvantaged backgrounds was stressed. The provision of study support
services, hardship funds and practical counselling supports were amongst
the topics discussed. The Estonin group brought to light the need to
provide training of trainers who work with disadvantaged students. As well
as expanding on the issues raised above the German group added some
insight
into the employment of disadvantaged adults once their courses in
education have been completed. The Belgian partners discussed some of the
historic reasons for disadvantage in their area and stressed the need for
basic literacy and numeracy courses. The importance of this approach in
preventing a new generation of disadvantage was noted. The partners from
Finland discussed the the difficulties faced by unemployed people, the
lack of motivation and normal daily routine is often a big problem and the
need to re-establish a normal pattern of living was stressed. The
particular difficulties of working with students who have been sent back
to education by the employment office was also examined. All of the above
mentioned topics were discussed in detail and comparisons drawn between
the experiences of each country.
Workshop
2 - Practical measures to help the disadvantaged
This workshop constituted a brain-storming session to identify practical
steps that could be taken in each partner institute to further help
disadvantaged students. At the beginning of the workshop participants took
part in a roleplay game designed to highlight and understand the type of
prejudice that disadvantaged people can face. This included not just the
prejudice of others but also the debilitating effects of poor self
confidence, low self esteem and lack of basic education. Participants were
then split into groups and each group set about examining ideas as to how
disadvantaged students could be given additional supports in their own
institute. A wide variety of ideas were proposed including various study
support services, initial induction programs, peer mentoring, emergency
financial supports, student confidence building
measures and teacher supports. Each participating institute undertook to
try out at least one of the proposed ideas over the course of the next few
months.
Workshop
3 - Preparation for meeting in Ireland
The
itinerary and workshop topics for the next meeting in Ireland were
discussed and the
date for the meeting was agreed.
Other Activities
The social programme during this meeting included a trip to Lake Balaton,
a visit to the village of Tihany, in particular to the Abbey Church and
Benedictine Abbey Museum. There was also an opportunity for participants
to visit some of the attractions of central Budapest.
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