The main objective of the project is to design, implement and test an innovative learning methodology for school teachers in order to provide updated competences in multi-cultural classes management.Migrant integration in European societies has become a crucial and urgent issue for Europe.Economic crisis and the European enlargement process developed a relevant trend of migration from the outskirts to the economic centers. The number of refugees asking for asylum is arising and this process entails a huge challenge for Europe. The success of integration process represents a crucial element for the European Union future.The methodology will be based on the multi-perspective approach of the Heritage Interpretation. The method is meant for learning activities focusing on interpretation and promotion of cultural heritage.The adaptation of heritage interpretation methodologies and tools provide the opportunity to develop an effective resource to support migrant integration both in formal education institutes and in local communities. Locals and communities will enhance the understanding of the environment increasing the sense of belonging. Teachers and students will foster intercultural skills to transfer in local communities in order to enhance European citizenship values.This process will make integration easier for young people from different Countries and cultures in school classes.Objectives:- Provide a set of skills and competences to improve school teachers performances in the management of multi-cultural classes and heritage interpretation.- Encourage the development of intercultural competences for students in order to:a) Tackle the spreading of stereotypes and prejudices;b) Develop active citizenship approaches through the understanding of UE fundamental values and enhance the common cultural heritage;Target Group:- School Teachers and Tutors (15)- Secondary level students (300)- Heritage Interpretation experts (10)Beneficiaries: Schools and learning institutions, families, migrant associations, trainers, public institutions (learning, youth, social inclusion, migration)Outputs:IO1: Learning process for teachers (OER): meant to provide skills to ease the creation of heritage interpretation projects developed by students as a tool to foster migrant integration and enhance European values. Key elements:- Intercultural skills;- Understanding of Heritage Interpretation Fundamentals;- Understanding of History and European values;- Acquisition of ideographic methodologies;- Elements of project planning; IO2: Case studies on Heritage Interpretation paths (OER): School teachers test the acquired skills planning and implementing “interpretative planning process” during the training. It will focus on a site belonging to the cultural heritage of the local community. IO3: Guidelines (e-publication): They will provide suggestions and instructions on how to implement Heritage Interpretation as subject in secondary level schools to ease migrant integration.Results:- Professional development and updating of school teachers competences by the definition and testing of learning paths for multi-cultural classes management;- Implementation of Heritage Interpretation process on site belonging to local community involving teachers, students, different communities representatives;- Professional development for Heritage Interpretation experts through the adaptation of the educational sector;- Intercultural skills development to be transferred in local communities to enhance European citizenship values;Impact:- Support migrant integration both in education and training field and in local communities;- Support the role of schools as coordinator for the realization and promotion of integration projects as well as migrant integration in local communities;- Foster the understanding of European values as the respect for human dignity, equality, respect for human rights, non-discrimination, pluralism, tolerance, justice and solidarity.Possible long term benefits:Project will develop and evaluate an innovative methodology easily adaptable, implementable, and suitable for a wide range of school and learning contexts.
The main aim of the project, in relation with the European Year of Cultural Heritage (2018), was to adapt, implement and test an innovative methodology for the promotion of the historical and cultural local heritage in order to integrate immigrant students in the multicultural classrooms. The theme of the integration within the European societies has become a priority even in the educational field where the presences of students with migrant background increased in the last few years. The Heritage Interpretation methodology turned out to be strategic for the involvement and support of students with migrant background in the school contexts and in the local communities. The project reached the following objectives: - Teachers and tutors acquired a set of competences for the multicultural classes management by exploiting heritage interpretation techniques; - Students acquired intercultural competences to tackle stereotypes and prejudices and to strengthen the relations with peers at schools; - Local communities acquired knowledge about the immigrant origins of their territories participating at the Heritage Interpretations projects: - Heritage Interpretation experts reached a new target (schools) to be involved in their educational activities; The following organizations implemented the project activities: 4 European secondary schools (Italy, Germany, Greece, Poland); Freiburg University, among the first in Europe to transfer the Heritage Interpretation Methodology for the promotion of the historical heritage; Red Kite Environment, British organisation specialized in the management of protected areas and sites and for the promotion of cultural heritage addressing local communities needs. Ce.S.F.Or. , training institute and labour agency active in the intercultural communication field and for the integration of youth into the labour market. Teachers selected historical sites belonging to their territory assisted by the heritage interpretation experts, then they collected the most representative elements and items of the sites. They developed with the students the historical paths involving local communities through the implementation of live events focused on the European values and the integration of cultures. The Heritage Interpretation and intercultural communication experts transferred their techniques into the school environment to support the learning development and the realization of the events. A Joint Staff Training Event was implemented in order to let teachers test the techniques for the promotion of their cultural heritage. 5 meetings were set and implemented in the countries represented by the partnership. The Outputs were developed and translated in 5 languages: - The HIMIS Teacher Training Course: it provides the competences to realize the heritage interpretation projects in order to integrate students with migrant backgrounds at school and the intercultural competences the enhance the relationship in the classroom. - Heritage Interpretation projects (Video-case studies and blogs) realized by teachers and students in the partner schools in order to foster the local cultural heritage; - HIMIS Guidelines (OER) for the development of cultural activities (heritage interpretation) and the European values for students and citizents with migrant background; Project Results: - Teachers’ skills upgrading for the management of multicultural classrooms and for the inclusion of non-formal learning activities in school; - Students’ intercultural skills development in order to enhance the relations among peers in multicultural classes; - Implementation of cultural projects for the promotion of the cultural heritage of the territories and the local communities involvement; - Adaptation of heritage interpretation methodologies and techniques at school/education field. The activities allowed to get the following impacts: - Increase the integration of migrants both in the school field and within the local communities; - Increase the role of the schools in the management and promotions of ventures addressing the integration of migrants by fostering the cultural heritage; - Increase the commitment of the local communities towards the integration and the respect of the European values.