SEL in Action 2018-2021 Erasmus Project

Project Title

SEL in Action 2018-2021

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 2018

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Inclusion – equity; Disabilities – special needs; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses

Project Summary

The aim of our 38-month project was to integrate the Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) into formal education in Hungary and Italy, based on a good practice, which has been well proven, documented and tested in Northern Ireland, UK. Led by the National KID Association, our international partners Barnardo’s (Northern Ireland), FORME and CEIPES (Italy) and 5 local Coordinator organizations in Hungary (Szociogramm Nonprofit Kft. – Debrecen, Foundation for a Changing World – Szombathely, KÖZ-Pont Association – Szolnok, Association for People with Disabilities – Salgótarján, Sásd and its Region Nonprofit Ltd. – Pécs) helped to disseminate the project results as widely as possible. We have developed and tested curricula for children between the ages of 6 and 14 which – after a short preparatory training – could be easily adapted to their existing teaching practice. Our aim was to sensitize educators to develop their own and their students’ competencies so that schools focus not only on the transfer of lexical, academical knowledge but also on the social and emotional development of students and teachers / school staff, by developing key competencies that are essential for those involved for the creation and maintenance of well-functioning, inclusive school communities. In our lonely, alienated culture, in which more and more children and adults are struggling with mental problems and depression, we need to put special emphasis on emotional intelligence and resilience. Our project responded to the public expectation that schools should have a core mission of developing these key competencies. SEL provides a methodological toolkit that helps children and adults alike to experience, become aware of and understand their own and others’ emotions more fully, to be more accepting of themselves and to feel empathy toward others.
During the project period, we acquainted the elements of the decades-long well-functioning Northern Irish SEL practice and the application of these elements in school practice. We learned about the theoretical background of SEL and the extensive international research findings that justify SEL education. Based on the Northern Irish methodology, we developed our 14-week Hungarian and Italian SEL curriculum (grades 1-8). We had collaborations with local educational institutions, 10 educational institutions in Hungary and 4 in Italy, where after testing the teachers we tested the children’s emotional intelligence in the training groups (who later participated in the 14-week preparation) and control groups (who did not participate in SEL preparation). . A total of more than 1,200 students participated in EQ pre- and post-test (TEIQue-Traint Emotional Intelligence and SDQ-Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire). 20 teachers in Hungary and 4 in Italy took part in Barnardo’s teacher training at our Northern Ireland partner. Subsequently, more than 600 students participated in SEL trainings for 14 weeks in the two countries, who were then retested with the control classes at the end of the training (TEIQue and SDQ) to track their progress. In the course of the project, in addition to the curriculum, we developed a teacher training program to be accredited in Hungary. The participating teachers continuously monitored the students’ behavior and wrote case studies on the ongoing development of the participating students (available on our website: https://selinaction.hu/esettanulmanyok/).
The project website is available in 3 languages, Hungarian, English and Italian. The results of the project and the recommendations for educators were formulated in a White Paper for decision makers and education professionals also in 3 languages, Hungarian, English and Italian. A SEL video of the project process was made and the results of the project were disseminated at an international SEL Conference. The long-term sustainability of the project is ensured by the completed SEL teaching materials, the teachers trained in the project continue to use the acquired SEL practice in their teaching practice, the long-term collaborations established during the professional study trip of higher education actors, the White Paper project and the Accredited Teacher Training Program in Hungary.

Project Website

https://selinaction.hu/

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 145179 Eur

Project Coordinator

Országos KID Egyesület & Country: HU

Project Partners

• Mozgáskorlátozottak Egymást Segítok Egyesülete
• Humán Innovációs Csoport Nonprofit Kft
• Forme
• SZOCIOGRAMM Tarsadalmi Szolgaltato Nonprofit Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag
• Változó Világért Alapítvány
• KOZ-PONT IFJUSAGI EGYESULET
• Barnardo’s