Conferences

Giedre Straksiene from IHR (Klaipeda University) welcomes the participants and thanks them for coming at the multiplier event “Intercultural Education: challenges and facilities”. After the welcoming speech, Asta Jankauskiene (Klaipėdos Gedminų progymnasium) gives some practical information about facilities of the meeting room, coffee breaks and lunch. The multiplier event agenda introduced by Giedre Straksiene, and adopted by all participants.

Dr. Giedre Straksiene from IHR project (Klaipeda University) presents the overview of the IHR project activities carried out in the framework of the National report, and Transnational report based on the six national reports produced by the IHR partnership (Belgium, France, Greece, Italy, Lithuania and Portugal). She introduced the main Modules and its chapters of guide for Teachers on Inclusive Education. Summing up, she highlighted that despite that during the two past decades, the number of various activities, courses and practitioners has steadily increased, intercultural projects and discussions about racism and discrimination at schools seem to be lacking. Prof. dr. Ilona Klaniene (Klaipeda University) presented the results of the questionnaires collected from teachers and students. She noticed that according to teachers and school staff, the first goals of education in general are to provide basic knowledge first, then develop each student's capacity, citizenship skills and lastly specialised skills. Moreover, she pointed out, when asked about the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, teachers think that the most important of its principles is the prohibition of violence, followed by the right to education. According to teachers and school staff, violence is considered most likely to happen inside the family and circles of friends, but also at school where the problems of bullying and discrimination cannot be ignored. She also presented the two of the case studies identified as best practice. Teacher Asta Jankauskiene (Klaipeda Gedminai progymnasium), also she is a coordinator of the Tolerance Education Centre of Klaipedos Gedminai progymnasium, presented the current situation related to the importance of the intercultural education in nowadays school in Lithuania. Furthermore, she presented various education activities in primary and secondary schools, incorporated in the curriculum. The aim of these activities is to develop intercultural communication and improve the school climate and relationships between migrants (or other nationalities) and native students. After the coffee break has been organized the workshops for participants based on the practice acknowledgment during the courses in Siena University 25th-29th September 2017. Four Lithuanian teachers: Jurgita Petkutė-Jevstafjeva (Klaipėdos “Versmės” progymnasium), Asta Jankauskienė (Klaipėdos Gedminų progymnasium), Aušra Gavšinienė (Klaipėdos “Gabijos” progymnasium), and Aurelija Kurmiuvienė (Klaipėdos “Verdenės” progymnasium), who participated in the workshops shared their experience, and demonstrated the methods/games. The participants worked together in small groups to critically analyze and redesign assignments or learning activities in order to create a learning experience that supports students from diverse cultural backgrounds. The impact of these activities was observed during the process and during the discussion.