Gymnasium (https://www.gymnasium-rutesheim.de) is a secondary school which is situated in the affluent urban hinterland of Stuttgart with branches of the companies Bosch, Porsche and Voith nearby. It has more than 1200 pupils of different social and cultural backgrounds living in Rutesheim, Leonberg and its surrounding communities. Rutesheim Gymnasium has 100 teachers The school has an outspoken interest in digital learning with online platforms, e-boards and shared documents. It also has a clear intention to provide strong sustainable and international influences at school. Every school year pupils are involved in exchange programs with the US, England, France, Spain and India. There is a special emphasis on career guidance for the 10th graders with learning in international orientated companies. Generally secondary school lasts for eight years in the state of Baden-Württemberg but Rutesheim Gymnasium can offer its pupils nine years with as part of a pilot program (starting from summer 2019 onwards). This year is a big opportunity for our pupils to work on their skills concerning independent citizenship ("der mündige Bürger”). Education for independent citizenship for pupils is a main goal in the school curricula. The pupils are offered the opportunity to work on their skills for a future where they can actively participate in political discussions, decide on the best course of action and be able to carry responsibility within a community, company or political system. The project “Traces of Otherness” seeks to help pupils to give them the means to face the challenges of European citizenship. With the Brexit and the rise of Extremist right-winged parties, pupils’ questions on the European system and its values boosting. They want to understand what Europe stands for and which responsibilities and duties they face on a European and international level. Our motivation for joining the project "Traces of Otherness" is to broaden the pupils' horizon by implementing the dimension of responsibility as a European citizen at our school. By researching and exchanging ideas where traces of the others can be found in our lives we can work on ways to compromise and look for European common roots to build on. This can only be done with the help from other European schools who face different challenges within Europe. Then both teachers and pupils can motivate our pupils in peer teaching and have pupils take charge of their learning process.
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Yahya Kemal College (www.ykc.edu.mk ) is a private primary and high school, founded and accredited by the Ministry of Education in 1996. There are three branches of Yahya Kemal College in various places of Macedonia and they are as follows: Tetovo, Struga, and its main branch in the capital of Skopje. The total number of teachers is 295, the total number of students is 1614, and that of staff 78.
The school is a general high school, comprising Maths and Natural Sciences and Social Sciences classes. Apart from the three vice principals who constitute the main administration of the school, there are also three advisors and one University counselor. They help the students throughout the college searching and admissions process, by guiding them according to their ability and preference. Additionally, the advisors organize various kinds of social activities and observe the psychological and social development of the students. The Republic of Macedonia is a continental country in the south of Europe. It is a small multinational country with a population of 1,700.000, consisting of 70% Macedonians, 25% Albanians, and the rest are Turkish, Serbian, Bosnian and other minorities. Sad to say but true, our country’s political atmosphere is constantly tense, especially regarding our multiethnic society. However, our school, stands out from the rest of both state and private schools in our country. Namely, Yahya Kemal College (YKC) put together all these nationalities into one class, which is not the case with the rest of the schools in Macedonia. They are a pure example of the fact that living together is possible. All the projects and extra curricular activities are done with mixed groups of students, one more example of showing in practice of what the main aim of this school is, written at the very beginning of this profile i.e. evolving from Macedonian into EU/global citizen. In addition to this, YKC, in cooperation with the Macedonian Government (Department for Euro Integration) has come up with an idea of forming an EU club in schools, where students are going to be prepared for the EU standards. This club has existed for two years now, with 18 pupils being permanently involved in it. Macedonia as a country, has already set its goal: Europe. The school has also set its goal: EUROPE! It has begun paving its the way by starting working on its integration through this club. Further sign that this school aims at internationalization is the fact that high percentage of YKC students continue their University education abroad. ‘Traces of Otherness’ project seems to be an ideal opportunity for our multiethnic school to deepen our insights and to improve them by obtaining experiences from and exchanging ideas with our partner schools from Germany, The Netherlands and Lithuania, all being EU members. We teach and bring up our students in an inclusive and integral community. We teach them that open mindedness is a Must if they want to become EU citizens. |
Insula College Halmaheiraplein (https://havovwo.insulacollege.nl/havo-vwo) is a comprehensive school of Christian nomination. The school is part of the H3O foundation, which includes different pedagogical institutions. H3O is an acronym for care, upbringing and education of children, using one's head, heart and a hands-on approach to encourage children to explore the world. Insula College works towards a a modern rich learning environment in which pupils and teachers can develop education of the future.
The school has 80 teachers, 30 staff members and 1100 pupils from different backgrounds, from Dordrecht and its surroundings. Dordrecht is bordered by large rivers on all sides and close to Rotterdam, a metropole with an international focus. Internationalization for pupils and staff has been an important focus since 2008. The school has an international school policy to ensure long-term development in this area, catering for pupils’ exchanges with Spain, Germany, Zweden and France, KA2 projects and KA1 activities for our teachers and headmasters, including job shadowing and international courses. Furthermore, we intend to offer the Goethe-certificate for our German learners and the Delf certificate for our French learners in future. Insula offers and develops multi-level teaching to suit the needs of every pupil. As a universum school, a special focus is placed on science and technology, using a network of schools and universities to collaborate. The school has been working with an official peer learning to encourage pupils to learn from each other for a number of years now. To broaden our international activities we would like to expand this way of working together with European schools in a new field, teaming up with schools in Germany, Macedonia and Lithuania in the “Traces of the Otherness” Erasmus+ KA 229 project. The theme of this project supports the need of our school to activate pupils to feel responsible and become involved in their surroundings on a national, European and global level. We want to equip our pupils for active citizenship in a future shaped by a rapid diversification of the European political landscape, including the rise of extremist parties. Pupils need to open their minds to other cultures: they need to develop an broad civic awareness and they need to take up their responsibilities as active European citizens. We need our pupils to battle prejudices and teach them how can be enriched through learning about other cultures rather than reject them. In a speech at the kick-off meeting of the Dutch ‘Global Citizen Network’ for internationalisation in November 2018, Ruben Terlou talked about the importance of exploring other cultures. The only way to succeed in this is to have an open mind, to listen without judging. In this way, you invite the other to feel comfortable enough to open up too, moving from disinterest and prejudices to mutual understanding and empathy. Terlou also mentions the importance of learning other languages: a nation’s culture is embedded in its language. Every society has its own idiosyncrasies. A true European citizen acknowledges the otherness and fosters the European common ground that binds us. |
Simonas Daukantas gymnasium (www.daukantas.lt) is in Šiauliai, Lithuania. It provides secondary education. The school has 44 teachers, and 376 pupils. The pupils’ age ranges from 14 to 19. There is a large variety of extra-curricular activities, optional subjects. Pupils have opportunities to participate in school, national and international projects. They are encouraged to do voluntary work. A lot of work is done to help students planning their career. The gymnasium started integrating an engineering program in 2018. The first engineering class was formed. In 2019 we already have the 2nd engineering class and two 1st engineering classes. The pupils of these classes study design, participate in STEAM programs at Šiauliai University and Šiauliai State College, construct sumo robots and take part in the competitions, visit various business enterprises and work on engineering projects,such as cooking and examining the chemical content (the amount of vitamin C) of pumpkin puree, constructing smart lighting fixtures, creating smart costumes or smart scooters. We are continuing our work in order to get the status of Engineering Lyceum.
Students attend various events organized by American Corner in Šiauliai P. Višinskis public library. A group of our students met Tomas Jaehn who spent four weeks assisting and lecturing about New Mexico and the West. We were delighted to welcome Irish ambassador David Noonan in our school. It was extremely interesting to exchange ideas and thoughts on the future of the EU and many other subjects. Simonas Daukantas gymnasium students had the chance to host Marcus Micheli, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, who is currently the Chargé d’affaires a. i. at the U.S. Embassy in Vilnius, Lithuania. He covered such topics as education, life of diplomats, diplomacy and the beautiful friendship of the U.S. and Lithuania. Nationally recognised The Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) Award Scheme has been run successfully at Simono Daukanto gymnasium for a few years and has become a prominent part of school life. Our gymnasium offers all three Duke of Edinburgh Awards: Bronze (Year 10), Silver (Year 11) and Gold (Year 12). All staff is fully experienced and has all the necessary qualifications. We are the third largest participating school in Šiauliai. Simono Daukanto gymnasium has created partnership with Šiauliai University. Our school students collaborate with Erasmus Student Network ŠU exchange students in educational projects and various shared-activities and events here at our school and at university. To improve and enrich the process of lifelong learning, the school has focused on the European strategy of participating in European projects. Simonas Daukantas gymnasium has always paid particular attention to cultural diversity and landscape as a resource for the development of our society and students and their teachers. Participation in the project “Traces of Otherness” will helped pupils to become aware of their European identity, and different cultures and cope within a multicultural society. This will reduce the risk of discrimination of other nationalities and will give more opportunities to socialize with people of different nations. Besides students and teachers will be involved in the activities, and have an opportunity to improve their competences and methodologies. Pupils and teachers also will have a chance to improve their communication skills in foreign languages, coming in contact with people of different cultures, learning positive skills and consolidating the European dimension of their own identity. Teacears also want their students to know the Historical-Cultural heritage. They have the opportunity to share these issues with peers from other schools/countries. |