Heritage Interpretation for Migrants Inclusion in Schools Erasmus Project

Project Title

Heritage Interpretation for Migrants 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 : Strategic Partnerships for school education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2016

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; EU Citizenship, EU awareness and Democracy; Migrants’ issues

Project Summary

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.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 293127,5 Eur

Project Coordinator

I.P.S. Marco Gavio APICIO & Country: IT

Project Partners

• Red Kite Environment Ltd
• Ce.S.F.Or. Centro Studi Formazione Orientamento
• Zespol Szkol nr 6
• ALBERT-LUDWIGS-UNIVERSITAET FREIBURG
• 3o GENIKO LYKEIO KERKYRAS
• Kastelbergschule Waldkirch