Conference “Diversity in Adult Education”

The conference “Diversity in Adult Education” was held in the 17th of November in Helsinki (Finland) by the The Finnish Lifelong Learning Foundation – Kansanvalistusseura (KVS), in the framework of the Erasmus+ funded project “ImplOED: Implementing Outreach – Empowerment – Diversity” (in which DAFNI KEK is a partner).

Conference description

The growing number of immigrants and asylum seekers sets expectations also for the education systems in Europe. Immigrants are a growing group of learners, especially in adult education institutions also in Finland. How can the training paths of migrants be streamlined in Finland? What examples can be found in Europe to increase the participation of immigrants in adult education? How can the good practices be implemented in Finland?

Kansanvalistusseura‘s (The Finnish Lifelong Learning Foundation, KVS) international conference gathers decision-makers, authorities and representatives of organisations toshare good practices on how to streamline migrants’s learning pathways in Finland and to include migrants in adult education.

The conference is part of a European Commission funded Erasmus+ project implOED – Implementing Outreach Empowerment Diversity which aims at reaching out to socially and educationally disadvantaged adults to engage them in lifelong learnin.

Information

In the links below you can find information and outtakes from the conference (almost all links are entirely in English)

Event on facebook

Hashtags #‎divconf17‬ & #implOED on facebook

Hashtags #‎divconf17‬ & #implOED on twitter

DAFNI KEK’s facebook page

Photos from the event

Storify

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Image 4: Value of Inclusive Education 5. End of the Journey

“In Africa there is a concept known as ‘ubuntu’ – the profound sense that we are human only through the humanity of others, that if we are to accomplish anything in this world it will in equal measure be due to the work and achievement of others” – Nelson Mandela

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Image 5: Quotes per column (from left to right)
1α) OUTREACH – EMPOWERMENT – DIVERSITY (logo) #DIVconf17 #implOED illustrations @ainosutinen “100 ago we were the second poorest country in Europe”
2α) THE VALUE OF INCLUSIVE EDUCATION «People move for a multitude of reasons». LIFELONG LEARNING integrates LIVING & LEARNING

1β) «IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD». INCLUSIVE EDUCATION LEADS TO -PERSONAL GROWTH -ECONOMIC INDEPEDENCE -JUST SOCIETES an environment that ENHANCES LEARNING
2β) «CAN I USE MY SKILLS ACROSS THE BORDERS?» Two flags with the words «NEW» and «COUNTRIES». It matters to a child to be able to say «Mother, I can see you are educated»
3β) ADULT EDUCATION IS IMPORTANT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIETIES «Children learn through playing, but they don’t play to learn» PLAYING/LEARNING means building IDENTITIES: «WHO AM I?»

1γ) INEQUALITY MEANS UNEQUAL ACCESS TO RESOURCES «ILLETERACY IS A PROBLEM AMONG PARENTS – It is not always enough to translate»
2γ) “CONNECTED LEARNING – LEARNERS SEE THEMSELVES AND OTHERS AS KNOWLEDGEABLE”. PEER-TO-PEER LEARNING – DIGITAL TOOLS – MAKING SPACES
3γ) «LEARNING THE LANGUAGE IS ESSENTIAL» Conflicts between old & new identities, ways of thinking. CULTURE – HISTORY – NORMS TERMS – LAWS – REQUIREMENTS – OPPORTUNITIES

1δ) MANY SMALL STEPS «WHO AM I?». NOT ONLY THE IMMIGRANT, BUT ALSO THE SOCIETY MUST CHANGE
2δ) “CONFIDENCE FOR THE FUTURE, EVEN WITH CHALLENGES” – «AM I ABLE?» «WOMEN IMMIGRANTS ARE AN HETEROGENOUS GROUP»
3δ) WHY PROFESSIONAL MENTORING? «WHAT TO DO NOW?» NETWORKS – NEW VIEWS & LEARNING – SPECIFIC PROFESSIONAL PRACTICES – REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS – CULTURE EXPLAINED