The goal of the project „MECEC+” is to realize a compared domain analysis on Early Education (ECEC) in three countries (Italy, Tuscany - Hungary, Budapest region - Spain, Catalonia) through the analysis of skills, educators training and studies, systems and regulations reference, and the observation of educational services for children. The overall objective in the long term is to contribute to improving the inclusion of disadvantaged children and for the development of their skills, for guaranteeing equal opportunity at the entrance of the school, and the necessary skills to achieve good learning outcomes: the preschool education has the highest returns in terms of results and social adaptation of children.The children considered at risk of social exclusion in this project are in particular cultural minorities (ROM) and immigrants, and children at risk of poverty or below the threshold of poverty. Poverty is often linked to membership of an ethnic minority or immigrant status.The data in the Eurydice Report 2009 show that 1 in 4 children in Europe is at risk of poverty or social exclusion.Studies agree that early education, "pre-school" is critical to success in school, for the prevention of early school leaving and for the cultural and social integration of children, but also indirectly of families, and supports women's access to the labor market.MECEC+ is a study of the domain, thanks to which the partners want to equip themselves with knowledge and tools to create a new university-level training on the topic of ECEC as a tool for inclusion and development of skills of children at risk of social exclusion in particular ROM and immigrants, in a subsequent project Erasmus Plus KA2 Knowledge alliances between universities and companies / public services.MECEC+ intends to take the following actions:- Study visits in the partner countries- Trainings- Observation of early childhood services - Comparative analysis of the training of educators in the 3 countries- Collection of training needs of educators- Creating a network of partnerships between businesses/services and universities of the three territories- Knowledge of European reference organizations - Knowledge of good practices, innovations, policies and strategy of EU- Design of a new university training on the multicultural ECEC- Realization of a SECTOR STUDY – final publication- Sharing the results with organizations of other European countries for the preparation of a new university training for an inclusive and quality ECEC.Are involved in the project early childhood education professionals of the 3 countries, educators and coordinators of services, trainers and academics, students. The professionals directly involved in the study visits are 20, about 150 are the professionals involved in the analysis of the training needs and about 1000 professionals are involved in the dissemination and discussion of the Sector Study on the situation of services for early childhood, in relation to the integration and the development of skills of children belonging to the target groups of the project, the related training needs of the professionals involved and the proposals for an innovative training.
Accoording to studies at European level, the early years are crucial in people's life, as these greatly influence its education, employment and integration prospects, so the high quality ECEC-Early Childhood Education and Care services are essential to improve education outcomes and to give equal opportunities to all children, especially those coming from disadvantaged backgrounds. ECEC services are an important tool to prevent school failure and to promote social inclusion, not only for children but also for their parents; as European researches in this field highlight the importance of creating opportunities that foster social cohesion and promote equal opportunities, in a more and more multicultural European context. In accordance with this European priority, the main goal of the Multicultural Early Childhood Education - MECEC+ project was to carry out a comparative study on Early Childhood Education and Care in the partner countries (Italy, Tuscany - Hungary, Budapest region - Spain, Catalonia), through the analysis of the actual contexts on multicultural ECEC, the existing training paths and the analysis of training needs of ECEC educators, the systems and regulations of reference, the observation of ECEC services and exchange of good practices, with attention to the European good practices. The partners organizations were organizations working in/for ECEC, universities, public and private ECEC services: Galileo Progetti Nonprofit Kft., coordinator – Hungary/ Budapest; ELTE University – Hungary/Budapest; JEB Associated Nurseries of Józsefváros – Hungary/Budapest; Arca Social Cooperative – Italy/Tuscany; University of Florence – Italy/Florence; ENCIS Serveis a les persones – Spain/Catalonia. The realized main activities were study visits in the partner countries in ECEC services, training activity involving experts at international level, direct observation of ECEC services, comparative analysis of the ECEC system, of the contexts and the exisiting training paths of educators in the 3 countries, the collection, analysis, comparing of training needs of ECEC educators. The partners compared the conditions/contexts in the three territories, acquired new competences, shared good practices, innovative methodologies, and analyzed the criticisms, equipped themselves with knowledge and tools to define the emerged common needs, in order to plan the design of a new and international university level training on multicultural ECEC, which can contribute in offering quality ECEC services and support for the integration of children at risk of social exclusion in particular immigrants and Roma, and their families - this curriculum will be developed in the subsequent Erasmus+ KA2 I.ECEC project by the partners. The main results and impact attained: a network of partnerships are created among enterprises/services and universities of the three territories, the increasing knowledge on good practices of other European countries and on innovations, on policies and strategy of EU, the realization of a final publication/intellectual output "THE INTERCULTURAL NEEDS OF EDUCATORS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD SERVICES" collecting the produced materials and the results of the need analysis. The results were shared via multiplier events and dissemination activities at local, regional, national and European level. The project responded to the need of the constant improvement of the quality of universities/ECEC services' training offer, thanks to the exchange among professionals, to the knowledge of successful experiences and best practices in other countries in an international dimension, thanks to the training activity and the study visits realized. The longer-term benefits are the establishment of an active and professional collaboration which is going on among universities of different European countries, and among different actors of the sector: universities and enterprises, public bodies and private organizations. The comparison and dialogue among professionals from European countries was made thanks to the transnational projects meetings/study visits, the comparison among actual workers and university students who will be the next generation of educators - the professional curiosity of present and future professionals has increased. The involved persons, participants and partners increased their European vision and network: this proactive attitude towards the enlargement of network multiplies the European dimension, the interest for future cooperation at European level, and bring together partner to design new projects with common objectives to improve further ECEC from an inclusive and intercultural aspect.