Our Head of Centre was on a European Study Visit to Poland in 2007. The title of the visit was "ways to enhance the education of adults". It was an excellent visit in which the hosts arranged an interesting and challenging programme for the participants. They went to considerable effort not only to arrange observation and participation of the educational structures and systems of Poland and the EU but also of some of the cultural aspects of life in Poland.
The group was a small group of six participants who represented countries at the extremes of the European Union, from the South of Spain, Northern Sweden, Portugal and Hungary, Slovenia and Scotland, and the study group took place in Poland. The group participants came from a wide range of professional disciplines with one passion, the education of adults.
The main finding was been that in spite of all the cultural and religious differences and coming from such diverse parts of the European Union that the group use similar techniques, forms and mechanisms to enhance their students experiences of continuing education. The participants come from a wide variety of backgrounds, experiences, different educational backgrounds, different professions and different countries. However all believed that the role and energy of the lecturer, teacher etc. was central to the students experience of education, the truism that “a good teacher inspires learners” continues to be the case in the age of distance learning and e-learning. This was affirmed by the groups experiences throughout the visit.
There were significant differences in the educational environments in which the participants worked. There was considerable expertise in the group in e-learning and in developing flexible systems for individuals to learn. There was differing experiences in working within schools and colleges and in developing systems of individual assessment. But there was a common theoretical understanding of adult learning styles. (if you would like a copy of the report please eamil me)
This visit lead to a proposal to develop a European partnership proposal called the "Learning for Care Partnership", involving the Centre for Knowledge and Understanding in Suwalki, Poland (www.cdniku.pl) and the Regional Society for the Support of people with Intellectual Disabilities, a care provider in Vidin, Bulgaria (www.vidin.net/rdpluz).
The plan involves 14 mobilities per partner and is aimed at allowing students and staff the opportunity to “taste” care practice and training in other European partner countries. Oilean will coordinate the partnership.
The partnership propose to split the mobilities into an initial partnership meeting followed by two groups of six. The first partnership meeting will take place in Vidin in Bulgaria in August 2008 and the first group travelling to Poland and a second group to Bulgaria in 2009. The Directors of Oilean will travel with both these groups to maximise the transfer of learning and to participate in joint training with the care staff.
Representatives from Suwalki came to visit Scotland in January to plan for the partnership and joined in the training with the Including Men group, which was great fun for all concerned. We look forward to meeting with our Polish friends again before too long.
There are two groups of students who could actively benefit from these visits – Level 3 health and Social Care students and Level 10 Learning and Development students. The Mobility Programme is of particular benefit to learning and development candidates who will be able to observe and evaluate the practice of vocational teachers in Poland.
We anticipate that the partnership will become a long term venture and european exchanges will be an on-going feature of our work in the future.
