The Mediterranean Institute of Gender Studies (MIGS) in Nicosia, Cyprus is coordinating a transnational project entitled “Young Migrant Women in Secondary Education – Promoting integration and mutual understanding through dialogue and exchange” funded under the European Fund for the Integration of Third Country Nationals of the European Commission. Partners to the project, which has a duration of 18 months, include the Centre of Research in Theories and Practices that Overcome Inequalities (CREA) at the University of Barcelona (Spain), the Centre for Rights, Equalities and Social Justice (CRESJ) at the Institute of Education, University of London (UK), the Department of Sociology at Panteion University (Greece), and the Euro-Mediterranean Centre for Educational Research (EMCER) at the University of Malta (Malta).
Project Goal
Policies developed for the integration of migrant children in schools usually recognise the fluid and multiple aspects of cultural and language identities but less so the dynamic character of gender in relation to the transnational experience of migrants. Having abandoned past assimilation approaches, schools in many European countries now try to build integration policies and develop practices on the basis of respect for cultural diversity. However, gender mainstreaming is absent from such practices, strategies and policies
How it works
The activities of the project are as follows:
- A comparative literature review to map existing integration policies in the education system;
- The undertaking of research in each participating member state in order to examine if current policies in the secondary education context address and reflect the needs and experiences of young migrant women and take into account factors such as diverse religious background, migration paths and status, and language needs;
- The organisation of discussion groups with relevant stakeholders in the five countries with the aim to provide further insight, analysis and knowledge of the needs and experiences of young migrant women in secondary education
- The development of policy recommendations on the implementation of more flexible and focused integration measures that address the specific needs of young migrant women in the secondary education;
- The organisation of press conferences in all partner countries to present and disseminate the research findings;
- The development of transnational cooperation networks through the organisation of a workshop in Cyprus.
- The implementation of an awareness campaign through the publication of information leaflets as well as a resource book which will incorporate the results of the project activities as well as examples of best practice and recommendations for policy change
- A final conference involving key stakeholders and experts from across Europe to address the development of an integration model responsive to the particular needs of young migrant women in secondary education
Results
Results of the project include the publication of a resource book, the publication of leaflets, publication of reports based on the discussion groups.
Evaluation
The project will be external evaluated by an independent expert in field of gender, integration, and education.
Who benefits
Young migrant women in secondary education in Cyprus, Greece, Spain, Malta and the UK.
Funding and resources
European Commission, European Fund for the Integration of Third Country Nationals 2008.
About this good practice
- Project dates
- -
- Geographic area
- EU Wide
- City
- Nicosia, Athens, Barcelona, London, Valetta
- Organisation
- Mediterranean Institute of Gender Studies
- Contact person
- Josie Christodoulou
- Position
- Policy Coordinator
Details
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