Practical Actualization of Equal Treatment and Social Inclusion in Schools Erasmus Project

Project Title

Practical Actualization of Equal Treatment and Social Inclusion in Schools

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : School Exchange Partnerships

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2019

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Intercultural/intergenerational education and (lifelong)learning; Inclusion – equity; Pedagogy and didactics

Project Summary

In the current social climate, we feel it is crucial to raise awareness concerning and strengthen democratic values, basic human rights, social inclusion and non-discrimination. Social inclusion and equal treatment are highly important terms within education and since school is where our future leaders and citizens are taught and moulded, it is a crucial platform for working with these core values. However, social inclusion and equal treatment are complex concepts, often in need of concretizing. Our project aims to achieve deeper understanding and practical actualization of these terms through practicing critical thinking, showing the possible effects of segregation and through intercultural dialogue.
Participants are Spångbergsgymnasiet (henceforth SPG), Sweden, and ELTE Apaczai Gyakorlogimnaziuma (henceforth ACSJ), Budapest. Target groups of the project are students aged 16-18 and teachers. Local participants are The Eng. Dept. at Eötvös Loránd University and the theatre group Mentöcsónak Egység (HUN) and The Crime Prevention Centre (SWE). Annual safety surveys at SPG show a need to work more actively with equal treatment in teaching. ACSJ lacks such surveys. Therefore, it is especially important to exchange good experiences in this area.

The activities refer to social inclusion, equal treatment and effects of segregation. Some student activities, including meeting Holocaust survivors, listening to a former neo-Nazi and listening to the story of an immigrant student’s escape from their country, will help students relate to these abstract concepts through personal accounts. Other student activities, such as creating a photo exhibition and participating in Model UN, will engage students in thinking about stereotypes, prejudice and the consequences of unequal treatment. The activities will lead to strengthening of the students’ democratic values. All teacher activities aim for deeper understanding of social inclusion and equal treatment in order to, through professional dialogue, create a portfolio of lesson plans and didactic methods based on these terms.

Evaluation, both in regards to the process of the project work, organisation and methodology, and of the expected effects of the project’s contributions, will be carried out after each activity. This will ensure the quality of our project and keep it on its expected course.

We will work through transnational networking to exchange experience for an expanded public dialogue on the development of future society and allow exchange of best practices to learn from each other’s experience. We further want to promote youth participation and civic engagement at a local and European level, encourage democratic and civic participation of youth by promoting opportunities for societal and intercultural engagement. The project’s main objectives are: 1) Good education for all. We are working to create conditions for an inclusive and equal education of good quality and to promote a life-long learning for all. Education is a human right which lays the foundation for health, participation and equality in society. 2) Reduced inequality. Our efforts are expected to result in strengthening of opportunities to impact and partake in society and democratic processes, regardless of background. 3) Achieving practical actualization of equal treatment and social inclusion, and for teachers to gain a greater didactic toolbox.

The effects of this project will be a more dynamic and professional environment inside the organisations, ready to integrate new methods, increased capacity and professionalism to work at a European level. The project will support individuals in acquiring and developing basic skills and key competences, in order to foster socio-educational and personal development and to participate in civic and social life.
On an individual level the project will lead to: Increased competence in foreign languages, greater understanding and responsiveness to social, ethnic, linguistic and cultural diversity. More active participation in society. More positive attitude towards EU values. Better understanding of policies and systems in education or youth across countries. Broaden and deepen social and political participation of young people at local, regional, national and European level. Deepen critical thinking among young people to strengthen democracy and fight propaganda and fake news. Increased competence for teachers and students.
On an organisational level the project will lead to: Useful working methods in the day-to-day operations. Capacity built organization with increased quality in the education. The schools having obtained didactical methods and tools for learning and teaching and strengthened competence.

During and after the project, the results will be spread through several different channels, such as meetings with local politicians and educators, press/media Youtube, Instagram, a blog, meetings and lectures with other teachers and teacher students etc.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 62784 Eur

Project Coordinator

Spångbergsgymnasiet & Country: SE

Project Partners

• ELTE Apaczai Gyakorlogimnaziuma es Kollegiuma