Fryske Akademy (The Netherlands)
Coordinator
The Fryske Akademy (FA) is the scientific centre for research and education located in the province of Fryslân. The research it carries out ranges from: culture, history, linguistics, language learning, regional and economic development. The FA is home to the Mercator European Research Centre on Multilingualism and Language Learning (MRC). The MRC focuses on several fields of research, amongst others on policy, education, multilingualism, language learning and minority languages and cultures. Related topics of research focus on language vitality and preservation, languages and minority communities in the digital era, social media use, intercultural dialogue, mobility related to language and culture, just to name but a few. Next to that, it has an important network function as member of many international networks: The MRC is leading member of the European Mercator Network which exists now for over 25 years, participates in the European Civil Society Platform, and in the Network to Promote Linguistic Diversity (NPLD) to name but a few. The MRC is situated in a multilingual region in the Province of Friesland, the Netherlands. This region hence functions as a natural ‘laboratory’ to pilot and test, and to carry out research in its field of expertise, especially in the field of multilingualism, and to share this amongst other regions in Europe. The scope of activities of MRC are in general centred around the study, gathering, storing and distribution of information through a documentation and information network for regional and minority languages in the European Union. Other elements of the MRC are a database of experts in the wide field of: multilingualism, regional and minority languages, language learning technologies and language and minority policies. These experts are active in contributing to the MRC activities (e.g. seminars, conferences and the production of reports). For example, in collaboration with the international network of experts the MRC produces a series of Regional Dossiers that describe the position of lesser-used languages in education, and a series of language fact sheets that give brief overviews of language diversity in the member states of the European Union. The Mercator Research Centre (MRC) has proved its quality in several EU projects, including several LLP projects. The number of staff members often changes because of the flow of projects, but is normally between 5 and 9 FTE. The FA is home to MRC and has normally around 60 FTE.
Elhuyar Zubize (Spain)
Elhuyar Zubizek (ZUBIZE) orain dela 25 urte jarri zuen abian enpresa-munduko lehen euskara-plana, Eusko Jaurlaritzarekin egindako hitzarmen baten ondorioz. Ordutik, 100 enpresa eta erakunde publiko baino gehiagoren euskara-planak diseinatu, garatu eta ebaluatu ditugu.
Hizkuntzari buruzko aholkularitza-lana egiteaz gain, ZUBIZEk beste hainbat lan egiten ditu: plan estrategikoak eta sektore-planak, aholkularitza-lanak eta kontrol-tresnak, euskararen erabilera sustatzeko prozesuak eta lanean euskara erabiltzeko material lagungarriak.
Egun, bi jarduera-arlo nagusi ditugu: euskara, emakumeen eta gizonen berdintasuna eta parte-hartzea. Eta gure helburua hau da: parte-hartzean eta berdintasunean oinarrituta, hobetzeko zerbitzuak eskaintzea, gizarteko hainbat eremu elkarlanean eraikiz, eta hizkuntza txikiei tratu berezia eskainiz.
Banaiz Bagara Elkartea (Spain)
Banaizbagara Kultur Elkarteak 2010. hasi zuen bere ibilbidea eta azken bost urteotan Euskara eta Euskal Kultura irakasten esperientzia zabala izan du gizarteratze eta kultura aniztasunaren testuinguruan. Donostian kokatua, Nazioarteko Kultura Garaikidearen zentroa den Tabakaleran du egoitza. Irabazi-asmorik gabeko erakundea da, erakunde publikoek finantzatua eta egun bost langile eta hamar irakasle freelance inguru dituena. Orotara, elkartearen lana 240 pertsona ingurura iristen da urtean zehar eta 20 taldetara. Irakaskuntzaz gain beste hainbat ekintza antolatzen ditu, kirol-jarduerak, edota festa eta ekintza kulturalak kasu. Elkartearen beste egiteko bat da lanerako euskarazko komunikazio gaitasunak lantzeko ikastaroak eskaintzea, batez ere migratzaileentzat, pertsonen zaintza, ostalaritza eta industria sektoreetara zuzenduak eta esparru desberdinetako lanbide heziketako tailerrak ematea.
Centro per lo Sviluppo Creativo “Danilo Dolci” (Italy)
Centre for Creative Development “Danilo Dolci” was established based on the experience of social and educational work carried out by Danilo Dolci and his collaborators, which started in Eastern Sicily back in 1952. The Centre stemmed from the need of offering the local communities a reality committed to practically solve the problems arise during regular meetings held with people, and in 1958 it was renamed as Centre of Studies and Initiatives for Full Employment, with the purpose of promoting economic and social development of the local territory In 1985 the Centre of Studies and initiatives is restructured in Centre for Creative Development, focusing more on non-violent education practices and contributing to the development of a methodology, the reciprocal maieutic, able to ease creative development at school and in the local territory. After the death of Danilo Dolci, in 1998, his name is given to the centre as a celebration of his strong inspirational impulse. At present, the Centre for Creative Development “Danilo Dolci” is a non-profit association involving young people and adults, which mainly acts through projects in the educational field carried out in cooperation with schools, universities, institutions, associations and social groups both at local and international level.
Axxell Utbildning AB (Finland)
Axxell is a training organization with about 3700 students and 350 employees which offers VET and independent studies both for youngsters and adults. Axxell operates in bilingual areas in Finland and because of that offers training programs both in Swedish and Finnish. Axxell is one of the significant integration training providers for adult migrants in Finland for almost 20 years. Annually about 1600 adult immigrants study in Axxell. A team of approx. 50 language and guidance teachers provide Finnish language training and career guidance for migrants in Axxell helping to integrate newcomers to Finnish society. In addition to integration training programs Axxell has special vocational training programs for adult migrants (e.g. business and administration, bus drivers, customer service, constructions etc.). During these programs migrant learners are obliged to learn also at least basics in other national language (Swedish). This is particularly important in bilingual areas because knowing at least basics in other national language is a prerequisite for entering to job market. Learning in parallel two languages and also vocational skills is challenging for migrants and sets high demands for the teacher. Therefore Axxell is committed to develop teachers´ didactical and pedagogical skills regularly.
Swansea University (United Kingdom)