UNEC - Uniting Europe through Cultures

1. UNEC -Uniting Europe through Cultures “with malice towards none”

2. “Stars under the Cobblestones” Multicultural Skills for Teachers and trainers in adult education

3. UNEC - Example of Best Practice 2006 • Internal and ExternalEvaluation: • organised as a team • constant feedback • second pair of eyes for co-ordinator

4. UNEC – Winner of Bronze Award for Quality in Mobility 2008

5. Aims • create a Grundtvig 3 course that would improve the intercultural competence of those working in the adult education arena. • promote the teaching of lesser known languages at European level.

6. Overview • The project has set up a team of tutors who have pooled together expertise from the different partners and devise the content, the teaching approach and the methodology which is used within the course. • The package thus created was tested twice and improved according to the feedback received from learners. • Starting from 2007, the course is included in the Comenius/Grundtvig Catalogue and offered to a wide European audience.

7. Reasons to begin the project • Adult education – an arena in which people from many cultures come together • Adult education – an arena for those who are no longer part of the formal education system. • Adult education – resource used by immigrants to learn about new culture • Adult educators play a key role in the development of a European solidarity, a sense of belonging to a Europe wide community

8. Originality of project • Synthesis of individual international experience of partners • Use of the life-story interview method, which allows people to “tell their own story” • Skills based on empiric research in the Learning partnership “Developing skills for efficient communication with people from different cultural backgrounds”. • Use of short-term language model ..using a lesser known European language. • Topicality of multi-culturalism and European identity in light of new expanded Europe.

9. Partnerships involved • The Business Club “AUSTRIALIA”, Austria • CVO Deurne, Belgium • Västra Nylands folkhögskola, Finland • Lifelink, Ireland • CLCT Sibiu, Romania

10. Content of the course • Part of the course is to help adult educators develop a “toolbox” of skills/competencies to help them work effectively in a multi-cultural setting • Part of the course is for immersion in a lesser known European language as there are Finnish, Romanian and Dutch.

11. Development of adult trainer competencies Knowledge Strong cultural identity Openness to new experiences Respect for other’s opinions Capacity to negotiate values Externalisation/self-expression Other elements Empathy Sense of humour Enthusiasm Interpersonal Skills Patience Ethical behaviour Competences for Intercultural Education

12. Short term language modules teaching main basics Promoting linguistic diversity Stimulating familiarity with LUWT languages Raising empathy – course participants play the role of their own students who face a multicultural environment Team building of the course participants Introduction to culture Language courses

13. Pedagogical Approaches used • Kolb’s experiential cycle. • Morin’s theory: narrative and paradigmatic thinking. • Use of role plays, pair/group work • Workshops • Learning by Doing - drawing on “life stories”

14. Kolb’s experiential cycle

15. Development and testing of course • The course was developed by the team of tutors and then tested twice • First test course: CVO Deurne, Belgium, 17 - 21 August 2006 • Second test course: Bad Aussee, Austria 8 - 14 December 2006

16. Delivery of finished course • IE - Dublin, 9-15 March 2007 • FI - Karjaa, 12-18 May 2007 • FI - Karjaa, 30/11-4/12 2007 • AT – Bad Aussee, 1-6 March 2008 • FI - Karjaa, 18-23 August 2008 • AT – Bad Aussee, 27/3-1/4 2009 • FI – Karjaa, 17-22 May 2010 Next course: • AT – Bad Aussee, 4-9 March 2011

17. Quotes from Participants • „There was every day something, which was useful“ • „.. now I understand my students better; I have more empathy for them“ • „I was charmed by the methodology used in the Language Supplies“

18. Dissemination of UNEC courses • Online Promotion • Websites • Other Project Partners/Accquaintances • Word-of-Mouth former participants • Paper Promotion • local, regional, national and EU Events • Conferences and other occasions • COM/GRU Course Catalogue • Success Stories 2008

19. Sustainability of UNEC courses • Perstistenceofco-ordinator • Understanding venueprovider (AT, FI) • Financial sidelessimportant – NPO • 7 coursesdelivered • 76 participants • Mostlyfrom AT, BE, RO, IT, FI, • Somefrom DE, UK, PT, SL, GR, IE, SE, LV

20. UNEC Post-course Activities • Online Platform for former participants • Commitment-to-Action sheet • Verbal and written feedback • Information about up-coming courses • Follow-on course since 2010: UNEC – Stars reloaded

21. Delivery of follow-on course • UNEC Stars reloaded: enhanced intercultural skills for teachers and trainers • 10-16 October 2010, Chania, Crete • 11 participants from 3 different countries

22. How to apply • Contact your local partner for details • Visit our web site www.unec.eu.comto fill in the online application form • or contact co-ordinator: • Ingrid Wagenhofer at • tel: +43 2232 78248 • fax: +43 2232 78248 21mobile: +43 676 3187336 • office@club-austrialia.infowww.club-austrialia.info