CALL FOR APPLICATIONS Inclusive Education Ambassadors – “Inclusive Schools: Making a Difference for Roma Children”
The European Union and Council of Europe Joint Project “Inclusive Schools: Making a Difference for Roma Children (INSCHOOL)” aims to support the design and implementation of national inclusive education policies and innovative inclusive education practices in Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Portugal, Romania and the Slovak Republic1, in line with European standards and principles for quality inclusive education. The current cycle of the project will continue to improve the access, participation and performance of Roma and the children at risk of marginalisation and exclusion in pre-school and compulsory education. The project puts at the heart of its action the education system and its capacity to respond to the needs of Roma children, and all children at risk of marginalisation and exclusion, to celebrate differences and support their learning experience.
The INSCHOOL Project upscales its reach and cooperation in the six selected member States, through the involvement of relevant stakeholders such as Ministries of Education, National Roma Contact Points, EU funds managing authorities, national policy coordination entities, educational institutions, teachers and civil society organisations in the process of design, implementation, monitoring and review of national strategies and relevant EU fund programmes that promote and enable quality and inclusive education (QIE) for all children. The Project has the following specific objectives:
• Ensure that national education policies, coordination structures, recovery and resilience plans and operational programmes are in line with European standards and practices on Quality Inclusive Education and continue to meet the relevant thematic enabling conditions under 2021-2027 EU fund programmes;
• Support national level evidence-based solutions, promote changes in inclusive education policy and practice, and act to reduce and prevent further segregation of children in educational settings;
• Strengthen the capacity, competences and awareness of education institutions, schools, EU funds managing authorities and civil society on inclusive education;
• Raise and promote the awareness of the general public about the meaning and benefits of inclusive education.
Raising awareness about the evolution of the concept on inclusive education and promoting deeper understanding about its benefits for the society plays an important role in the process of education related policy reforms and for practical changes in the education practices in classrooms. The understanding of the concepts is shaped by the national policy and legal definitions and frameworks. The INSCHOOL Project will aim to promote a more universal (broad) understanding of quality and inclusive education concepts, policy and education practices based on already established academic and educational practice and knowledge. The Inclusive Education Ambassadors, through a set of information, communication and education activities will aim to engage relevant stakeholders in exchange of information, discussions and to seek practical solutions to advance the policy debate and education practice.
The concept of Ambassadors was initially promoted during the first cycle of implementation of the INSCHOOL Project. Given the positive results and feedback received from the piloted initiative it was decided to upscale the work with the Ambassadors in terms of reach-out as a way of promoting understanding, knowledge and good practices on quality and inclusive education.
All those interested to prepare nominations or submit their own candidacy for the position of Inclusive Education Ambassador should submit a complete documentation in English by 30 September 2022 to the following email address: inschool@coe.int. Please note that nominations on behalf of a candidate for this role are required to obtain the consent of the nominated candidate prior to the submission of the application. The consent will be considered valid following the presentation of a signed approval of the candidate or an approval in the form of an email confirmation.
The application package should include the following documents:
1. Professional CV
2. Completed application form
3. Any additional material that will support the candidacy or nomination that prove their record and commitment in inclusive education such as: experts’ articles, educational methodologies and/or activities, books, didactical materials, curricula, visual produces, video materials, etc.