Ljubljana, Slovenia on 21 September 2011: The British Council and Migration Policy Group are organising a policy debate on the MIPEX results in Slovenia with a conference to compare integration policies with other European countries, with a focus on education to take place in Ljubljana, Slovenia on 21 September 2011
The conference is organised with the support of the National Assembly and in collaboration with the Representation of the European Commission in Slovenia. The conference is the closing event accompanying the presentation of the Migrant Integration Policy Index (MIPEX III), an international study which compares integration policies in North America and 31 countries in Europe.
Please click here for registrations (deadline 14 September).
Click here for the agenda in Slovenian.
Slovenia has long been an area attracting immigration, and it became even more attractive to various groups of migrants from European and non-European countries when Slovenia joined the European Union. According to data from the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia, some 82,746 foreigners from 136 countries were living in Slovenia as of the beginning of this year, the majority (93.5%) being third-country nationals. It is expected that in the light of global events, this trend will continue or even increase.
One of the key factors for the successful integration of young generations of migrants is education. The Migrant Integration Policy Index (MIPEX III) study, which was conducted by the British Council and Migration Policy Group, shows that few education systems in Europe are adapting to the new realities that immigration brings, and that this is actually one of the weakest areas of policy, not only in Slovenia, but elsewhere.
The British Council creates international opportunities for people from the UK and other countries and builds trust between them worldwide. We call this cultural relations. At this conference, together with international and Slovenian experts, we will highlight the area of education by benchmarking the best national integration policies included in the study, and promote discussion by presenting future guidelines, problems and examples of good practice from Slovenia.
The conference is intended for policy makers and all those who can influence this issue in the Slovenia political arena: deputies, councillors and representatives of local authorities, education policy makers, head teachers and other management staff in the Slovenian education system, researchers, representatives of NGOs and migration groups whose country of origin is included in the MIPEX study or whose citizens comprise major immigrant groups in Slovenia.
Please click here for registrations (deadline 14 September).
REGISTRATION and INFORMATION ___________________________________________
The event is open to the public upon prior registration via the electronic registration form on the British Council website: http://www.britishcouncil.org/sl/slovenia-application-form-mipex.htm
The deadline for registration is 14 September 2011.
Location: National Assembly, Šubičeva 4, Ljubljana (small conference hall)
Working language: Slovenian; simultaneous interpreting services into English will be provided.
For all additional questions and information, please write to sanda.velic@britishcouncil.si or call us at +386 1 300 20 30 or 040 160 075.
PROGRAMME
Click here for the programme in Slovenian
Programme:
8.30 Arrival and registration
9.00–9.15 Welcome and opening address
James Hampson, Director, British Council
9.15–9.30 Overview of EU migration policy
Andrej Beloglavec, Acting Head, EC Representation in Slovenia
9.30–10.00 Migrant Integration Policy Index III: key findings with a focus on Slovenia
Dr Jan Nielsen, Director, Migration Policy Group, Brussels
10.00–10.15 Slovene integration policy in the future
Nina Gregori, Director, Directorate for Migration and Integration, Ministry of Interior
10.15–10.30 Slovene integration policy in the area of education - future developments
Dr Andreja Barle, Director, Office for the Development of Education, Ministry of Education and Sport
10.30–10.45 Guidelines for the integration of migrant children in kindergartens and schools
Mirko Zorman, National Education Institute of the Republic of Slovenia
10.45 –11.15 Coffee break
11.15–11.30 Education for intercultural relations
Dr Marina Lukšič Hacin, Head, Slovenian Migration Institute, SRC SASA
11.30–11.45 Implementing solutions in the area of migrant integration into school curricula
Anton Baloh, ravnatelj, Head Teacher, Primary School Koper
11.45–12.00 Successful integration of migrant children and students into education
Mihaela Knez, Centre for Slovene as second/foreign language
12.00–12.15 Migration, education and the labour market in intercultural societies
Dr Mojca Pajnik, Researcher, Peace Institute
12.15–13.30 Discussion and close of conference
Dr Felicita Medved, independent researcher
LINKS
MIPEX III study: www.mipex.eu
About the organisers:
British Council:
- The British Council is an international organisation from the United Kingdom for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We promote understanding of the UK abroad and mutual understanding between cultures, which contributes to creating greater global security and stability. We focus on the arts, English, education and society.
- We operate in over 100 countries and territories worldwide.
- We are a non-political organisation, working at arm’s length from the government.
More information: www.britishcouncil.si
Migration Policy Group
- The Migration Policy Group is an independent non-profit European think-tank committed to contributing to lasting and positive change resulting in open and inclusive societies.
More information: www.migpolgroup.org
