INTEGRATION OF YOUNG REFUGEES Using mobile devices leading to better language acquisition and relevant career guidance

Project summary

Context and background of the YouRNI-project:The so-called refugees' crisis is not a crisis, but a challenge to governments, societies and individuals all across Europe. And it is a European challenge not a national challenge. Many politicians draw attention to the fact that solutions and problem solving strategies can only be joint European approaches, not steps taken by any single country. Obviously the educational system in each country has to react, and to adopt. This project concentrates on the integration of young refugees in the VET-sector, and it wants to build up a network and connect stakeholders in order to share experiences and best practices. This YouRNI-project - addresses various aspects when it comes to second language learning with young refugees;- has a special focus on vocational language learning and didactics of L2 acquisition and integration training;- shares best practices of different countries about how to help refugees enter the labour market;- uses educational biographies and other screening measures in order to enhance employability of young refugees and encourages the use of Europass as an instrument.project partners:- Berufliches Seminar Karlsruhe, Germany (coordinating partner)- Education Group, Austria- Escuela Professional Otxarkoaga, Spain- Falun Borlänge Regionen AB, Sweden- Istanbul University, Turkey- Landesinstitut für Schulentwicklung, Baden-Württemberg (associated partner)- Ministerium für Kultus, Jugend und Sport, Baden-Württemberg (associated partner)- Pädagogische Hochschule Zug, Switzerland (associated partner)- Veneto Lavoro, ItalyThe partners have been carefully selected in order to integrate countries most heavily affected by the coming refugees, restricting it to institutions mainly from the school sector, especially VET/16+, teacher training institutions and regional development agencies for the labour market.objectives and target groups:The main objective of the project is the better integration of young refugees. Therefore, YouRNI focusses on two crucial aspects: 1) using mobile devices leading to better language acquisition; selecting, evaluating, testing and disseminating language learning apps that have proven to be successful in the language learning classroom; enhancing the individual learning time of each learner and improving the usage of these apps by creating accompanying materials for learning outside the classroom, e.g. written materials, "explain-it" videos or similar materials;2) relevant career guidance: using websites and links to and the expertise of the different project partners and spreading this expertise with the help of the project: among project partners, on a regional and national level through the project partners, and on a European level with the help of an elaborated dissemination concept;But YouRNI's underlying goal is to promote - in the situation given - once again the values that the European Union is made up of. These values are at the very bottom and foundation of all meetings and activities of this project.The target groups can be identified as follows:1. In-service teachers involved in the schooling of refugees;2. Teacher trainees of young refugees: Three partners are teacher training institutions, and many teacher trainees are asking for extra-qualification in the schooling of refugees;3. Young refugees in VET-schools, basically 16+;description of project meetings and six training activities:YouRNI will have four transnational project meetings with a sequence of three questionnaires leading to the usage and improvement of a learning package for learning inside and outside the classroom. A two-tier approach will be the guideline, looking both into app-based language learning and career guidance supported by mobile devices.teacher trainings:1. Istanbul/Turkey (December 2016): "English as the European lingua franca for young refugees in order to participate actively in European politics and develop a better understanding of European common values"2. Bilbao/Spain (May 2017): "Examining and applying didactics of L2 acquisition for young refugees using integration training as a frame"3. Linz/Austria (June 2017): "Reviewing media and materials for young refugees in German-speaking countries"4. Veneto (October 2017): "Using educational biographies and Europass as a tool for career guidance to improve employability of young refugees"5. Zug/Switzerland (May 2018): "Designing a teacher training qualfication course for L2-refugee classes, using ECTS as a European instrument in state-controlled teacher training"6. Karlsruhe/Germany (October 2018): "Developing a course on vocational language training for young refugees fostering intercultural competence"methodology and expected outcomes:The methodology of this three-year-project fundamentally rests on six pillars: 1. networking, 2. needs analysis, 3. development, 4. collecting results, 5. improvement, 6. presentation and dissemination;