Integration von Flüchtlingen in Schulen Erasmus Project

Project Title

Integration von Flüchtlingen in Schulen

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; Migrants’ issues; Integration of refugees

Project Summary

Thematic framework of the project were the challenges in matters of education policy generated by the refugee crisis of 2015/2016 in both participating countries, Germany and Austria, respectively their metropolitan areas. Until January 2016, the number of people who applied for asylum in Germany had risen by 133 per cent compared to the previous year. Ten per cent of all first applications were then filed in the federal region of Berlin alone. In Austria figures had increased dramatically as well since 2013. Here, two thirds of all applications were filed in Vienna. The population growth of both capitals has significantly been shaped by this immigration and lead to a continuously increasing diversity of the common general public which can, among others, be detected especially at schools of all types and levels. These days one can already find classes of 25 to 30 pupils where learners come from at least half as many countries of origin having at least twelve different mother tongues. In the wake of last years’ migratory movements towards the two regions participating in the exchange, now children and adolescents without knowledge of the German language but entitled to compulsory education have to be considered. They are first taught German in temporary learning groups called “Willkommensklassen” or “Neu-in-Wien-Kurse” in order to be later integrated into the regular school systems of both federal regions. These target groups have to be provided with access to the same learning opportunities as all those children and adolescents entitled to compulsory general education who are already part of the school systems of both Germany and Austria. Despite the language barrier, which is there at least at the beginning, there must not be any disadvantage. On neither side. To guarantee, against this background, school education and individual support for all children and adolescents alike, all educational staff have to meet the current challenges our societies face. To supply general education inside and outside classes for refugee children and otherwise immigrated young people plays an important part. A response to their diverse origins and their very different personal and educational biographies requires sensitive pedagogical action, the teaching of the not exactly uncomplicated German language in very heterogeneous learning groups asks for new methods and materials. Moreover, long-term solutions for proper integration of these students into regular classes of general education have to be found and been implemented into the system in a sustainable way. The Strategic Partnership “WELCOME – Integration of refugees into school” between two regions has generated an exchange of Good Practice on both sides in terms of administrative proceedings, methodological approaches and didactic concepts, innovative teacher and in-service training schemes as well as structures of networking and co-operating including financial and legal regulations and their implementation in and outside schools. The participating institutions, two regional educational authorities, two associations providing after- and outside-school advice and support, one pedagogical applied university and two schools per region, brought in profound and comprehensive administrative, legal, pedagogical and teaching expertise and experience regarding the target groups mentioned above. These experiences were be presented and compared to each other, thus becoming part of further future-oriented and sustainable conceptual consideration and being incorporated into innovative approaches concerning teaching at the schools providing general public education in both regions as well as teacher training and the training and qualification of educational staff. New concepts were contemplated about how extra-curricular opportunities may be better involved in the process of educational integration of newly arrived children and adolescents, in their language acquisition and promotion and in the intercultural dialog fostered by official educational policy. The results and outputs of this exchange of Good Practice between Berlin and Vienna are accessible through the project handout published online. They can be used by other parties responsible for education or any other people interested in the matter in other regions or federal states.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 57275 Eur

Project Coordinator

Senatsverwaltung für Bildung, Jugend und Familie & Country: DE

Project Partners

• GTVS10 Bernhardtstal Quellenstraße 142
• NMS Absberggasse
• PADAGOGISCHE HOCHSCHULE WIEN
• STADTSCHULRAT FUR WIEN
• Regionale Arbeitsstellen für Bildung, Integration und Demokratie (RAA) e.V.
• Barnim-Gymnasium
• Galilei-Grundschule