incluD-ed at the European Agency International Conference on Inclusive Education in Europe
Mar, 26/11/2013
On 18 November 2013, incluD-ed participated in the International Conference on “Inclusive Education in Europe. Key messages, putting theory into practice” organized by the European Agency on the Development of Special Needs Education.
Over 120 participants attended the conference that was aimed at organisations and institutions working on inclusive education around the globe. Attendees included Xavier Prats-Monné (Deputy General Directo) as well as Pierre Mairesse (European strategy for Education and Lifelong Learning) of the Directorate Education and Culture from the European Commission, Ádám Kósa, Member of the European Parliament and President of the Disability Intergroup as well as Lászlo Gabor, Member of the Committee on the Rights of People with Disabilities from the United Nations.
The aim of the conference was to present among experts, institutions and organisations representing people with disabilities, an analysis on current trends of inclusive education at an international level, as well as examples of inclusive practices around the world. Another objective of the conference was to consider to what extent the European Agency’s work supports countries in establishing and implementing inclusive education systems.
In the first part of the conference, a summary of the work conducted by the European Agency and the main results achieved until 2013 were presented via a keynote presentation. Information on what the European Agency for Development in Special Needs Education (European Agency) plans to do in the near future has been revealed too.
Within the second part of the conference, five transversal key messages across a wide range of topics related to inclusive education were presented. The purpose was to discuss, from different points of view, these key transversal messages for supporting inclusive education that can be found in different projects conducted by the European Agency. The key transversal messages discussed were structured as Challenges including: Group 1: ‘As early as possible’, Group 2: ‘Inclusive education benefits all’, Group 3: ‘Highly qualified professionals’, Group 4: ‘Support systems and funding mechanisms’ and Group 5: ‘Reliable data’.
incluD-ed participated in Group 5: ‘Reliable data’ on inclusive education. Lani Florian from the University of Edinburgh (UK) presented the key messages on the important role played by data, the real value of available data as well as benefits and limitations of data collection methods. Five relevant ‘stakeholders’ including representatives from Eurydice, the OECD, from the Ministries of Education in Austria and Iceland, the French researcher Serge Ebersold as well as the invited national experts Stefan Erson (Sweden) and Huguette McCluskey (Switzerland) and the incluD-ed Network presented their viewpoints and initiated a discussion moderated by Amanda Watkins from the European Agency.
The European Network of Inclusive Education & Disability was represented by Tatiana Mora from the incluD-ed Network Secretariat, who presented the network, specifically incluD-ed’s policy actions, as means of specific interventions during the working group. incluD-ed published in 2013 policy papers on the new international university ranking U-MULTIRANK (Mai 2013) and on the OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) (August 2013).
The network also presented its work on the gathering of best practices as well as its views on the lines of supported employment presented at the conference.
The network confirmed its thematic priorities as central for the inclusive education discussion. According to the evidence that was shared as well as the new challenges that were identified, incluD-ed confirms that its working lines are well defined and are placed at the forefront of the inclusive education discussion.
incluD-ed also used the networking opportunities among conference participants. In this sense, many of the participant experts were invited to become part of our virtual community such as Margareta De Clerq (BE) and Huguette McCluskey (SWI). The conference was also a place to meet members of the expert network such as Wytold Cýron (Poland) and Agneta Gustafsson (Sweden), Gudni Olgeirsson (Iceland).
More Information on the Organisation of the Working Groups session
Five working groups were organized, one per key message. The purpose was to have a range of points of view and discussions based on each of the key messages: from a theoretical perspective to a practical one. Researchers, European and national decision makers, young users of inclusive education (including family representatives), representatives of key European and International organisations and practitioners were involved.
Key message one: ‘As early as possible’
Detection and intervention as early as possible: the key role of assessment; positive impact of proactive measures; reduction of school drop-out rates; supporting transition measures between the different phases within education and from education to employment at an early stage.
Key message two: ‘Inclusive education benefits all’
The positive educational and social impact of inclusive education: taking a learner centred approach, respect of differences, taking into account learners and families’ views and wishes.
Key message three: ‘Highly qualified professionals’
The importance of having highly qualified professionals in general and teachers in particular; the requisite profile of teachers and other professionals – competences and attitudes; networking and co-ordination of professionals.
Key message four: ‘Support systems and funding mechanisms’
The need for well established support systems and related funding mechanisms: clear roles for and co-ordination between services; adequate provision of financial support.
Key message five: ‘Reliable data’
The important role played by data; real value of available data; benefits and limitations of data collection methods.
