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2. The Social and Economic Rationale of Inclusive Education: An Overview of the Outcomes in Education for Diverse Groups of Students. OECD Education Working Papers. No. 263
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Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) (France), Directorate for Education and Skills and Mezzanotte, Cecilia
- Abstract
Since UNESCO's Salamanca Declaration in 1994, inclusive education has progressively attracted attention in international debates around education policy. While some evidence exists on the positive impact that inclusive education reforms can have on the academic and personal outcomes of diverse students -- and in particular of students with special education needs -- limited information is available on the economic sustainability of such reforms. Starting from the literature on the correlations between education and individuals' life outcomes, this paper reviews the existing evidence on the potential benefits and costs of inclusive education reforms. Specifically, the paper discusses the evidence on the shortcomings of current education settings for diverse groups of students -- with specific sections on students with special education needs; immigrant and refugee students; ethnic groups, national minorities and Indigenous peoples; gifted students; female and male students; and LGBTQI+ (which stands for 'lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex') students. It highlights the individual and societal costs deriving from the low academic, social and emotional outcomes of these students and the socio-economic costs these yield for societies. Where possible, the paper also presents evidence on the effects of inclusive education reforms on diverse student groups.
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- 2022
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3. Protocol Paper: Conducting Life History Interviews to Explore the Journeys of People with Disability from Syrian and Iraqi Refugee Backgrounds Settling in Australia.
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Dew A
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- Australia, Employment, Humans, Syria, Disabled Persons, Refugees
- Abstract
This paper outlines a research protocol to be undertaken with people with disability from Syrian and Iraqi refugee backgrounds settling in Australia. Since 2012, the numbers of people with disability arriving from these countries has increased with limited understanding about the impact of their refugee journeys on their settlement. The aim of this small-scale exploratory study is to learn about the journeys made by people with disability from Syrian and Iraqi refugee backgrounds from their countries of origin, through transit countries, to Australia in order to understand the impact of these journeys on inclusion and participation in Australian society. This participatory action research study employs a bilingual co-researcher with disability from a Syrian background to conduct life history interviews with up to five participants. Participants will recount their journeys with a focus on the impact of their disability on this experience. The study design is informed by BenEzer and Zetter's 2014 seminal paper on the importance of the refugee journey to settlement. This study has the potential to foreground the voices and experiences of people with disability from refugee backgrounds who are often absent, silenced or excluded in research and, in so doing, hopefully impact Australian refugee policy.
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- 2021
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4. Refugee Education: Integration Models and Practices in OECD Countries. OECD Education Working Papers, No. 203
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Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) (France) and Cerna, Lucie
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The recent refugee crisis has put many Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries under considerable pressure to accommodate and integrate large numbers of refugees. Refugee students are a particularly vulnerable group due to their forced displacement, but their needs are not always met by education systems, which can hinder the integration potential of these students. This poses considerable challenges as the integration of refugee students in education systems is important for their academic outcomes as well as their social and emotional well-being. The success (or lack of) integration in schools can also affect the future labour market and social integration potential of these children and youth. While there is a growing body of research on the integration of immigrants, policy-relevant research on refugee children and youth from an educational perspective is rather limited, fragmented and case specific. Detailed surveys and research projects focusing on the current wave of refugees that allow for cross-country comparisons are not yet available. Drawing on research from previous refugee waves, the paper examines key needs of refugee students and factors that promote their integration. It proposes a holistic model of integration in education that responds to the learning, social and emotional needs of refugee students. Furthermore, the paper examines what type of policies and practices are in place in OECD countries that support the integration of refugee students. Nonetheless, evaluations of practices and policies are often missing, which makes it difficult to assess whether they are successful. The paper finishes with some policy pointers on how to promote the integration of refugee students.
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- 2019
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5. 'They Look Like Paper': Refugee Students Experiencing and Constructing 'the Social' at a Queensland High School
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Smith, Casey and Halbert, Kelsey
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Educational institutions in Australia face complex challenges in providing inclusive learning experiences for a growing number of North African refugee students. This paper explores the school experiences of five North African refugee students who volunteered to participate in semi-structured interviews in 2012. A qualitative intrinsic case study approach was employed to investigate participant experiences with their Australian peers. This included peer influence on defining social norms and the articulation of race, religion and social differences. Foucault's theories of discourse, the subject, disciplinary practices and normalisation, have been utilised as tools to drive the exploration of students' experiences. Participants encountered 'difference' in the Australian schooling context that affected their ability to connect to the social discourse and the disciplinary systems of school. Participants indicated that their knowledge of themselves, and others, had developed from a point of 'difference' and isolation, to ways of 'seeing' the characteristics of the 'Australian' student and the diversity within their 'white' peers and teachers. Exploring this discursive negotiation illuminates the taken-for-granted ways these students come to know the role of student, friend and school in facilitating membership and belonging.
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- 2013
6. Funding for English as a Second Language New Arrival Students. Schools Resourcing Taskforce Discussion Paper
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Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs (MCEETYA) (Australia)
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At the 18th meeting of Ministerial Council on Education (MCEETYA) (12th-13th May 2005), Council urged the Australian Government to: (1) increase per capita assistance to ESL-NA students with high educational needs, in particular, refugees and humanitarian entrants; (2) provide a new per capita allocation so that specific ethnic and cultural issues faced by those children and families entering into Australia under the refugee and humanitarian category can be addressed; and (3) expand the visa classifications eligible for new arrivals funding. Ministers Nelson and Hardgrave noted the points raised but indicated that a more evidence-based discussion of the issue was warranted to justify any Australian Government increase in funding. The MCEETYA Schools Resourcing Taskforce (SRT) convened a working party of Australian Government, Victorian Government and Catholic Education Commission representatives to work with the SRT secretariat to investigate this issue. A survey of the government state and territory education systems and Catholic education systems across Australia was conducted in March 2006. The survey was structured to collect data about the different modes of delivery of ESL tuition provided by an education system for its newly arrived students. Financial and non-financial data were collected in the survey. All states and territories participated except the Northern Territory. The Catholic Education Commission (CEC) provided data on two dioceses with substantial ESL-NA students. This report includes: (1) an overview of the existing policy settings for providing ESL tuition to newly arrived students, and of recent permanent and temporary immigration trends; (2) a national mapping of the services and different modes of delivery of ESL tuition provided by a system for its newly arrived students; and (3) an analysis of the current per capita costs of providing ESL tuition to newly arrived students and information on the adequacy of current provision for both groups of newly arrived students based on survey data. The Australian Government has expressed reservations about the methodology and conclusions drawn in this Discussion Paper. While these reservations remain, the critical importance of English language skills in improving workforce participation, productivity and aggregate economic outcomes for Australia, and to the well-being of individuals, is readily acknowledged. The Australian Government recognises the need to build on such common ground with further work to ensure areas of significant and specific ESL need are addressed. Appended are: (1) Visa Sub-Classes Eligible to Receive Commonwealth ESL-NA Program Funding; (2) Visa Sub-Classes Ineligible to Receive Commonwealth ESL-NA Program Funding; (3) SA Typical and Agreed Patterns of Entry and Exit Scales: DECS--ESL Scales; and (4) Survey Instrument. (Contains 19 tables, 9 figures and 63 footnotes.)
- Published
- 2006
7. Socioeconomic Contributions of Adult Learning to Community: A Social Capital Perspective. CRLRA Discussion Paper.
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Tasmania Univ., Launceston (Australia). Centre for Learning & Research in Regional Australia., Balatti, Jo, and Falk, Ian
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The socioeconomic contributions of adult learning to community were examined from a social capital perspective. The concepts of human capital and social capital were differentiated, and the relationship between learning, human capital, and social capital was explored. The relevance of social capital in describing the wider benefits of adult learning was illustrated through the examples of a study of the impact of the adult and community education (ACE) sector on communities and society in Victoria, Australia, and a study of a group of African women refugees located in a suburb of a large Australian capital city. The studies documented wider benefits of ACE in the following areas: health; education and learning; employment and quality of working life; time and leisure; command over goods and services; physical environment; social environment; and personal safety. Social capital building was shown to be implicated in effective adult learning in the following ways: (1) social capital is involved in program design, management, and delivery whether it is explicitly recognized as such or not; (2) the processes of drawing on and building social capital are part and parcel of the learning process; and (3) social capital can be a direct or indirect benefit of learning. (Contains 27 references.) (MN)
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- 2001
8. Immigrants' Language Skills and Visa Category. Discussion Paper.
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Institute for the Study of Labor, Bonn (Germany)., Chiswick, Barry R., Lee, Yew Liang, and Miller, Paul W.
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This study examines the impact of visa category on the English language skills of recent immigrants to Australia, focusing on the extent to which immigration selection criteria have an impact on language skills and noting the extent to which this impact is over and above that attributable to age, skills, and behavioral factors. The study followed a cohort of recent arrivals to Australia, examining both visa category and variables derived. Immigrants were interviewed three times between 1993-95. Overall, immigrants' English speaking, reading, and writing skills varied across the visa categories, and they were considerably higher among skill-based immigrants shortly after immigration, followed by family-based visa recipients. Refugees had the lowest language proficiency. These differences disappeared 3.5 years after immigration for speaking skills, but they persisted for reading and writing skills. The variables generated from the model of destination language proficiency were in part predictions of visa category and were important statistically for explaining proficiency. The effects of some variables on language skills increased with duration, in particular, the efficacy variable, age, and gender, which may be reflecting differences in labor market attachment. (Contains 25 references.) (Adjunct ERIC Clearinghouse for ESL Literacy Education) (SM)
- Published
- 2002
9. 'It Felt Like I Was a Black Dot on White Paper': Examining Young Former Refugees' Experience of Entering Australian High Schools
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Uptin, Jonnell, Wright, Jan, and Harwood, Valerie
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Schools are often the first point of contact for young refugees resettling in Australia and play a significant role in establishing meaningful connections to Australian society and a sense of belonging in Australia (Olliff in "Settling in: How do refugee young people fair within Australia's settlement system?" Centre for Multicultural Youth Issues, Melbourne. http//:www.cmyi.net.au/ResearchandPolicy. Accessed 21 June 2010, 2007; Gifford et al. in: "Good Starts for recently arrived youth with refugee backgrounds: Promoting wellbeing in the first three years of settlement in Melbourne, Australia." Melbourne: La Trobe Refugee Research Centre. http://www.latrobe.edu.au/larrc/documents-larrc/reports/report-good-starts.pdf. Accessed 4 June 2011, 2009; Sidhu and Taylor in: "Educational provision for refugee youth in Australia: Left to chance?" "Journal of Sociology," 43(3), 283-300, 2007). However, too little is known of how refugee youth encounter school in their new country. This article draws upon individual narratives of young former refugee's experiences of high schools. It explores the stories told by the young people of being identified as different and of negotiating ways of belonging in schools both academically and socially. It argues that it is how the school positions the newly arrived refugee students within mainstream school culture that opens up or restricts opportunities for inclusion in all aspects of school (in culture and pedagogy).
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- 2013
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10. Do refugees with better mental health better integrate? Evidence from the Building a New Life in Australia longitudinal survey.
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Dang HH, Trinh TA, and Verme P
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- Humans, Mental Health, Longitudinal Studies, Australia, Refugees psychology, Mental Disorders psychology
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Hardly any evidence exists on the effects of mental distress on refugee labor outcomes. We offer the first study on this topic in the context of Australia, one of the host countries with the largest number of refugees per capita in the world. Analyzing the Building a New Life in Australia longitudinal survey, we exploit the variations in traumatic experiences of refugees interacted with post-resettlement time periods to causally identify the impacts of refugee mental health. We find that worse mental health, as measured by a one-standard-deviation increase in the Kessler mental health score, reduces the probability of employment by 11.9% and labor income by 22.8%. These effects appear more pronounced for refugees that newly arrive or are without social networks, but they may be ameliorated with government support. These findings have significant implications for the development of health and labor policies, particularly regarding the integration of refugees within host countries., (© 2023 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)
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- 2023
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11. Bilingual Education and Social Integration. Bilingual Education Paper Series, Vol. 7, No. 2.
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California State Univ., Los Angeles. Evaluation, Dissemination and Assessment Center. and Shafer, Susanne M.
- Abstract
Bilingual education programs and policies in three countries with sizable minorities, Sweden, Australia, and the Federal Republic of Germany, are examined in order to gauge both the extent to which children with limited proficiency in the dominant language are in integrated classrooms and the degree of their social integration. First, the acceptance of foreign nationals into the Swedish labor force and communities and the elaboration of social policies toward those persons are outlined. The assumptions underlying bilingual education in Sweden are discussed along with four alternative forms of classroom organization that are being tried and the level of social integration of immigrant groups. Second, bicultural education in Australia is considered in terms of Aborigine education; education about the Aborigines; the induction of immigrants; ESL instruction; supplementary bilingual education programs; social studies and foreign language education; the response of education departments to the need for teacher training; and the debate over multiculturalism versus social integration. Third, the following dimensions to bilingual education in the Federal Republic of Germany are reviewed: policies toward guestworkers, political refugees, and European Economic Community nationals; the change from segregationist to integrationist approaches to the education of guestworkers' children; difficulties in integrating foreign students academically and socially; the problems of inner city enclaves of immigrants; and the question of repatriation. (RDN)
- Published
- 1983
12. Children of the Killing Fields: Cambodian Adolescents in New South Wales. Occasional Paper No. 19.
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Wollongong Univ., New South Wales (Australia). Centre for Multicultural Studies. and Boua, Chanthou
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This study investigates the settlement of Cambodian adolescents in New South Wales (Australia). It looks at their participation in education and employment, the effects the Pol Pot regime in Cambodia had on those who lived through it, and the identity problems that usually occur in young people as a result of migration. According to the 1986 Australian Bureau of Statistics Census, there were 5,898 Cambodians in New South Wales, and over a quarter were adolescents. Historical events have had a great impact on the settlement process of Cambodian immigrant youth. For example, most Cambodians arrived in Australia without having any formal education in Cambodia, and only haphazard courses in refugee camps in Thailand. When Pol Pot was in power almost all types of formal education were abolished, meaning that the average Cambodian immigrant youth is illiterate or only semi-literate in Khmer, and not accustomed to the formal learning environment. In addition, they suffer many psychological and physical consequences of political unrest and the Pol Pot regime. Students who arrive at the elementary level have better chances to succeed in education, while those who arrive as secondary students often find schooling unrewarding and frustrating. Dropping out often results in limited opportunities for employment. The circumstances of adolescent Cambodian immigrants to Australia were studied through interviews with 30 adolescents. Their experiences emphasize the consequences of educational deprivation in Cambodia and the refugee camps they were in before they came to Australia. In Australia, few schools offer instruction in English as a second language, placing another barrier in the paths of these students. Many of their difficulties in learning English may be traceable to the lack of literacy in the mother tongue and the failure to acquire early literacy skills. (Contains 2 tables and 42 references.) (SLD)
- Published
- 1990
13. Commercialisation in Australian Public Education and Its Implications for the Delivery of English as an Additional Language/Dialect: An EAL/D Teacher Perspective
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Sue Creagh, Skye Playst, Anna Hogan, Tae-Hee Choi, and Bob Lingard
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Privatisation and commercialisation in education encompass a range of interrelated practices, including the outsourcing of educational services as well as increased reliance on commercially produced resources for the delivery of learning and assessment. An increase in these practices has accompanied the shift from centralised systemic management of schools and specific programs like English as an Additional Language/ Dialect (EAL/D), to school autonomy whereby principals control budget expenditure decisions, ostensibly in response to the needs of their school population. The intersection between school autonomy, commercialisation and delivery of the specialised service of EAL/D is the focus of this paper. This paper presents the findings of a survey with EAL/D teachers in Australia, in relation to the extent to which they are experiencing commercialisation and the impact this is having on the delivery of a longstanding service designed to ensure equity of outcomes for English language learners. The data suggests that the use of commercial products in schools may not be aligned with appropriate educational practices which target language learning needs. There is a strong need for further research in the uptake and use of commercial products for specialist language support. This will elucidate the extent to which EAL/D as a specialisation is being impacted by the use of commercial products both in the appropriacy of the products and in the deprofessionalisation of specialist EAL/D teachers.
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- 2023
14. Reducing Vocational Education Inequality for Students from Refugee Backgrounds
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Susanne Gannon, Rachael Jacobs, and Danielle Tracey
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Vocational decisions made at school have significant long term impacts on young people's life chances, their opportunities for securing decent jobs and economic growth for themselves, their families and communities. In the short term, their aspirations dictate the decisions they make about educational pathways in post-compulsory years of schooling and vocational and higher education. For young people from already marginalised backgrounds, the quality of support they have in making these decisions is crucially important. This paper examines a rapidly expanding vocational education program specifically designed for students with refugee backgrounds that was codeveloped between a state education authority and a community service provider in Sydney, Australia. Through an ecological understanding of individuals as nested within interrelated networks, this paper explores the perspectives of stakeholders ranging from the educators, careers teachers, employers, civic partners, and, crucially, the young people themselves in order to determine whether and through what means key program elements meet the needs of students from a refugee background and where gaps in the program ecology need to be addressed.
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- 2024
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15. 'Do You Think I Ever Learn English?': Experiences of Limited Technology Access among Middle Eastern Refugee Mothers in Regional Australia
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Azadeh Motevali Zadeh Ardakani, Maura Sellars, and Scott Imig
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Purpose: The purpose of this study was to gain a deeper understanding of the experiences and challenges of Middle Eastern refugee mothers in using technology for language learning in regional Australian context. Design/methodology/approach: This study used a qualitative research design and used a narrative enquiry technique to understand participants' experiences of language acquisition with limited access to technology in new resettlement setting. Findings: The findings presented in this paper were derived from a qualitative investigation conducted on a sample of 21 refugee mothers from Middle Eastern countries. The research aimed to explore the role of a language education programme on their integration within the regional Australian context. Participants discussed a variety of aspects of their everyday lives within their new resettlement context while offering insights on the language education programme and its impacts on their educational progress. The theme "lack of access/use of technology in English language learning" emerged from the narratives. This paper draws on selected interview data from the participants. Originality/value: This study fills the gap in the literature on Middle Eastern refugees in regional Australia by exploring how lack/limited technology access can impact language acquisition of women from under-represented contexts.
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- 2024
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16. Implementation of Social Inclusion to Support Refugee Students' Well-Being in Victoria, Australia: A Study of School Reports and Policies
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Huu Loc Nguyen and Ahmed Bawa Kuyini
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This paper explores social inclusion approaches implemented by ten secondary schools in Victoria, Australia, to support refugee students' well-being, as articulated in their policies, reports, and other published documents. Using an exploratory, qualitative research design, we found that all schools employed a holistic approach to implementing social inclusion programs for refugee students. This paper reports on the best practices and unique examples of social inclusion programs from all schools involved in the study.
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- 2024
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17. A Subversive Pedagogy to Empower Marginalised Students: An Australian Study
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Helen Harper and Bronwyn Parkin
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This paper draws on Bernstein's educational sociology to illustrate how a language-focused "subversive" pedagogic approach (Martin, 2011) was systematically realised through classroom interactions. While educational inequalities are often addressed at the level of policy and budgets, this paper provides a perspective on inequality and differentiated student outcomes within the classroom. Our research context is Australia, where we have a seemingly intractable gap between mainstream educational outcomes and those of disadvantaged groups. We present a study on how teachers' conscious pedagogic choices worked to support marginalised students. The participatory research focused on a series of science lessons, conducted in a suburban primary school, with a high proportion of students of refugee background. We explain how, in collaboration with teachers, we reframed Bernstein's abstract notions of regulative and instructional discourses into practical, intentional pedagogic strategies. We describe how these strategies were named and implemented, how they became a shared heuristic for the research team, and the empowering effect they had on teachers and students. The study demonstrates the potential of bringing educational and linguistic theories into practice as classroom pedagogic dialogue, with the empowerment of marginalised students in mind.
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- 2024
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18. The Next Steps for Apprenticeship. Cedefop Reference Series. No 118
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Cedefop - European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training, Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) (France), Cedefop - European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training, and Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) (France)
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In a context of considerable interest in apprenticeship in recent years, Cedefop and the OECD decided to explore its future from the perspective of a number of megatrends, including sociodemographic changes, the accelerated adoption of emerging technologies and new forms of work organisation. They also considered how these trends have affected, and will continue to affect, the design and delivery of apprenticeship in European and OECD countries. The combination of the emerging economic crisis as an aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, together with long-term structural trends affecting global economies, will entail a profound transformation of the world of work and require effective policy responses in the years to come. This publication provides insights from 16 papers by researchers from Europe, Australia and the United States; nine were presented and discussed among policy-makers, practitioners and researchers during the joint Cedefop-OECD symposium on the future of apprenticeship held in October 2019 in Paris. Evidence and analysis in these papers will help inform political decisions shaping the future of apprenticeship.
- Published
- 2021
19. Technical and Vocational Education and Training for Disadvantaged Youth
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UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (Germany), Alla-Mensah, Joyceline, Henderson, Holly, and McGrath, Simon
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Due to its close links to the labour market, technical and vocational education and training (TVET) can play an important role to improve job opportunities and livelihoods for young people, and in particular for disadvantaged youth. However, this potential is not always fully realized, and relatively little research and evidence has been collected about the barriers disadvantaged youth face when accessing to and progressing through TVET. This paper maps some of the main barriers disadvantaged youth face in TVET and examines available evidence on strategies and approaches that are being used or can be used to meet the needs of disadvantaged youth. The paper discusses these barriers using a framework that looks at '4As': availability, accessibility, acceptability, and adaptability. The report is the outcome of a study conducted in collaboration with the University of Nottingham and other members of the UNEVOC Network.
- Published
- 2021
20. Refugee Education: Homogenized Policy Provisions and Overlooked Factors of Disadvantage
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Tebeje Molla
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For forcibly displaced people, high educational attainment is economically and socially empowering. Using experiences of African refugee youth in Australia as an empirical case and drawing on the capability approach to social justice, this paper aims to assess the substantiveness of education opportunities of refugees. Qualitative data were generated through policy review and semi-structured interviews. The analysis shows that not only are refugees invisible in equity policies, but educational inequality is also framed homogeneously as a lack of access. The restrictive framing disregards differences in people's ability to convert resources into valuable outcomes. Specifically, the paper identifies four overlooked factors of educational inequality among African refugee youth: early disadvantage, limited navigational capacity, adaptive preferences, and racial stereotypes. Without an expansive view of disadvantage, it is hardly possible to break the link between marginal social position and low educational attainment of refugees.
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- 2023
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21. Education and an Ethics of Care When Working with Refugee Families during COVID-19
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Keary, Anne, Reupert, Andrea, Kaukko, Mervi, and Wilkinson, Jane
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Provision of early childhood education and care services for refugee families took on heightened challenges during COVID-19 restrictions. We undertook a small-scale study to explore how Australian educators worked with and cared for refugee families during the COVID-19 outbreak in an urban Australian setting. This paper emerges from a larger project that aimed to support social inclusion and cultural and linguistic diversity for refugee families in Australia. The paper draws on two group interviews conducted during a COVID-19 lockdown with four educators working with refugee families in early childhood education and care. Data analysis is framed by the ethics of care work of Carol Gilligan and Nel Noddings. On the basis of these theories and the interview data, two vignettes on an ethics of care were developed. The importance of being cared for and cared about and genuinely listening were identified as crucial aspects of the care provided to refugee children and their families.
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- 2023
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22. Enablers and Barriers for Plurilingual Practices: How EAL/D Teachers Support New Arrivals in a Rural Secondary Setting
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David Partridge and Helen Harper
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This paper explores the reported practices of five specialist EAL/D teachers from a rural Australian town. They work with a cohort of refugee students from a single cultural group, who recently arrived in Australia with minimal English and with generally low levels of literacy in their first language. A questionnaire and semi-structured interview were used as data collection tools to explore how plurilingualism was being supported amongst these students. Our findings indicated that plurilingual practices occurred predominantly in the EAL/D setting, where participants benefited from favourable conditions. These conditions were characterised by a homogenous student group and allowed for a slowing down of the curriculum and the incorporation of students' first languages in the learning process. The presence of skilled bilingual aides was the lynchpin for the success of plurilingual practices in this study. Our research highlighted the need for further investigation into the enablers and barriers of collaborative practice between EAL/D and mainstream teachers and the role bilingual aides play in supporting plurilingualism in schools. There is evidence from this study to support reframing the concept of bilingual education in Australia, to better capture the complexities of plurilingual interactions in school contexts.
- Published
- 2023
23. The Basketball Boys: Young Men from Refugee Backgrounds and the Symbolic Value of Swagger in an Australian State High School
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Georgie Harwood, Kristiann C. Heesch, Marguerite C. Sendall, and Mark Brough
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Schools are critical spaces for young men from refugee backgrounds. They play an integral role in literacy development, educational attainment, and providing a sense of belonging. Inclusive education practices for this group?are?largely absent in Australian schools. Research shows focusing on these young men from a non-deficit position assists with inclusivity. There is a lack of research exploring the agentic practices of young men from refugee backgrounds within?schools. This paper explores the symbolic value of swagger for a group of young men from refugee backgrounds at a high school?in?Australia. A Bourdieusian theoretical framework guided?critical awareness of power in schools. This research shows how a group of young men found a meaningful way to acquire social and cultural capital. Despite the school's constraints, this group?developed a group identity reflected in their clothing and embodied dispositions referred to here as swagger. Our findings demonstrate the complex power relations at work, including the opportunity for the?young men to resist and be included. In the spirit of Bourdieu's concern for reflexivity our findings point to the need for schools, teachers, and education policy makers to consider the workings of power in schools in more considered ways.
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- 2024
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24. Optimizing Island Refuges against global Catastrophic and Existential Biological Threats: Priorities and Preparations.
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Boyd M and Wilson N
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- Australia epidemiology, COVID-19 virology, Humans, Iceland epidemiology, New Zealand epidemiology, SARS-CoV-2 isolation & purification, COVID-19 epidemiology, Disaster Planning, Health Priorities, Refugees
- Abstract
Human civilization is vulnerable to global catastrophic biological threats and existential threats. Policy to mitigate the impact of major biological threats should consider worst-case scenarios. We aimed to strengthen existing research on island refuges as a mitigating mechanism against such threats by considering five additional factors as well as recent literature on catastrophic risks and resilience. We also analyzed the performance of potential refuge islands during early phases the COVID-19 pandemic. Using a composite indicator (scored from 0-1) based on 14 global macroindices, we present analysis supporting Australia (0.71), New Zealand (0.64), and Iceland (0.58) as the leading candidate island nation refuges to safeguard the survival of humanity and a flourishing technological civilization from the threat of a catastrophic pandemic. Data from the COVID-19 pandemic supports this finding where islands have performed relatively well. We discuss the persisting weaknesses of even the best candidate refuges and the growing literature describing what preparations such a refuge should ensure to enhance resilience. Refuge preparations by Australia and New Zealand, in particular, may additionally provide some immunity against winter-inducing catastrophes such as global nuclear war. Existing disaster resilience frameworks such as the Sendai framework could be worded to mandate preventive measures against global catastrophic and existential threats. The issue of island refuges against certain global catastrophic risks should be raised at relevant international political summits., (© 2021 Society for Risk Analysis.)
- Published
- 2021
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25. Reflective Practice to Guide Teacher Learning: A Practitioner's Journey with Beginner Adult English Language Learners
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Playsted, Skye A.
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Reflective practice in TESOL is widely used in pre-service and in-service teacher education contexts and is regarded as beneficial for ongoing professional learning. While models of reflective language teaching vary, they all aim to improve classroom outcomes for teachers and students. A holistic approach to reflective practice includes teachers' beliefs, philosophies and the interaction of their teaching practices with moral and social issues outside the classroom as part of the self-reflective teaching process (Farrell, 2015; Larrivee, 2000). Reflecting on the teaching journey in this way can help teachers make sense of how individual beliefs about teaching interact with professional experiences, and how these interactions inform decisions in the classroom. The aim of this narrative paper is to describe the developmental process I went through during my first year as a teacher of beginner, refugee-background students in an adult migrant English language teaching program in Australia. Self-reflective data primarily sourced from teaching journals kept during my first year of teaching were analysed using Farrell's (2015) Framework for Reflecting on Practice. Following a brief introduction of the framework, its application to this current study is discussed. Findings highlight the important roles philosophy, theory, critical reflection and mentors played in my pedagogical decision-making and overall learning processes. The paper concludes with a discussion about implications for ESOL teachers, graduate students and educators in TESOL teacher education programs.
- Published
- 2019
26. Milestones in the journey: The story of refugees becoming registered nurses in Australia.
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Ng Chok H, Lewis P, Mannix J, Dickson C, and Wilkes L
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- Australia, Humans, Informed Consent, Nurses, Refugees
- Abstract
Aims: To explore the experiences of refugees who became registered nurses after arriving to Australia., Design: Qualitative description using a naturalistic inquiry framework., Methods: Between February 2018 and September 2019, the lead author conducted semi-structured interviews with employed registered nurses (RNs) that are former refugees and English-speaking. Interviews were 45-90 min' duration and digitally recorded. Participants provided voluntary informed consent and were sent questions beforehand. Data were collected and coded into themes. Rigor was achieved with multiple transcript readings by the research team to confirm common themes., Results: Twelve participants discussed their story. Three major themes were identified: (1) Milestone of being a refugee; (2) Milestone of resettling in Australia; (3) Milestone of becoming a RN., Conclusion: Each participant's story started at a place of disadvantage. They progressed successfully through the three milestones; despite living with traumatic experiences, they learned new skills, developed English literacy, became a RN and juggled the demands of life. This paper highlights the poorly understood pockets of the current Australian RN workforce., Impact Statement: The nuanced stories of RNs with refugee backgrounds in this study move beyond trauma and struggle and demonstrate the important journey this particular group of health professionals undertake. Increasing the contextual knowledge of the complex lives of former refugees turned nursing professionals will raise public awareness of the diversity of life experiences of RNs working in Australia., (© 2021 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)
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- 2021
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27. A Teacher's Experience of Supporting Young Asylum Seekers in Detention
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Birch, D., J.-F, Swabey, K., Pullen, D., and Yu, J.
- Abstract
Unaccompanied minor (e.g. below 18 years) asylum seekers (UMAS) as school students bring a complex array of needs into the schooling system. This paper aims to capture the teaching experience of a classroom teacher in a Vocational Training Center setting for UMAS students (n= 15 students between the ages of 16 and 17) at a detention facility in Australia. The English as a Second Language (ESL) Community Program extended over a 7-month period (March 2013-September 2013). As a reflective personal narrative case study this paper provides insight into how the ontological security paradigm was used to support UMAS students. UMAS students have complex needs from mental health to English language deficits and face continual challenges at all levels of their reintegration and settlement. Findings highlight that direct and explicit teacher training is required to assist UMAS students.
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- 2014
28. Refugee Young People (Re)forming Identities: The Role of Social Networks
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Langat, Kiprono, Major, Jae, and Wilkinson, Jane
- Abstract
Educational contexts around the world are increasingly characterized by diversity, including a rise in students from refugee backgrounds. Much research has focused on the educational needs of these students and the particular struggles they experience in educational contexts. The increasing number of refugee and asylum-seeking children in Australia calls for rethinking approaches to enhance the acculturation process in ways that build on individuals' prior knowledge and understanding of self. This paper draws on data from a larger case study that focused on Sudanese young people in regional Australia and investigated their out-of-school activities, networks, and practices and how these contributed to their success across a range of contexts. Drawing on perspectives of identity and theories of social capital, we discuss the role of social networks in generating social capital and what this means in terms of the (re)formation of students' identities in regional locations, and we consider how this can contribute to educational success. We suggest that the resources in regional areas present both a challenge and an opportunity for young former-refugee people in terms of repositioning themselves in new social, cultural, and educational contexts. The paper examines how the young people developed their own momentum, rationality, and legitimacy in their identity (re)formation, and suggests that educational settings need to connect with and understand young people's out-of-school resources to avoid deficit narratives that lead to poor educational outcomes.
- Published
- 2019
29. Finding a Stable Core in Supervision from a Distance: A Kurdish-Australian Case Study
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Huijser, Henk, Mandalawi, Sazan M., Henderson, Robyn, and Kek, Megan Yih Chyn A.
- Abstract
This paper's second author is a doctoral student, based in Erbil, in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, whose study focuses on peer education in refugee camps in that region. The other three co-authors are her supervisors, whom, to date, she has not physically met. Yet, we have created and sustained a productive 'learning community' from a distance. In this paper, we provide a critical reflection on the way this supervision learning community has worked and continues to work. We analyse the elements that make this a productive partnership and team, whilst also addressing some of the challenges. We use each other's reflections to discuss the elements that contribute to effective supervision from a distance. This case study demonstrates that creating and sustaining a human-centred learning community of peers forms the crucial foundation of and for effective distance doctoral supervision that nurtures independence and agency.
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- 2022
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30. Practical advice for refugees aspiring to become registered nurses in Australia.
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Ng Chok H, Lewis P, Mannix J, and Wilkes L
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- Humans, Australia, Qualitative Research, Refugees, Nurses
- Abstract
Aims: This paper describes practical advice for refugees aspiring to become Registered Nurses (RNs) in Australia., Design: Qualitative description using a naturalistic inquiry framework., Methods: Between February 2018 and September 2019, the lead author conducted semi-structured interviews with employed RNs that are former refugees that speak English. Interviews were 45-90 min in duration and digitally recorded. Participants provided voluntary informed consent and were sent questions beforehand. All transcription data were thematically analysed for key themes until no further themes were identified. This paper covers practical advice provided by the participants at the conclusion of their interviews., Results: Twelve participants provided practical advice. Six themes were identified: (1) Find your purpose and set goals; (2) Work hard and never give up; (3) Seek support; (4) Capitalize on opportunities; (5) Be optimistic; (6) Give back. The last theme, give back, was salient across all interviews and was an inherent motivator for some participants once their RN status was achieved., Conclusion: Each participant set the goal of becoming a fully registered nurse and made it a life goal that provided meaning for them. Despite their experiences, the participants provided practical advice that could guide younger people aspiring to become successfully qualified RNs., Impact: The findings in this study are unique as they are derived from people with experiences as refugees who, despite their adversity, became RNs. The practical advice provides a framework not only for younger people from refugee backgrounds seeking to achieve their professional goals, but others looking to succeed in other workforce sectors. The practical advice for success will be useful in informing nursing authorities, tertiary institutions and private and public health organizations to develop effective approaches to guide the next generation of would-be RNs set to contribute to nursing practice in Australia. There were no patient or public contributions as the focus was the personal and professional lives of nurses with refugee backgrounds., (© 2022 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)
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- 2023
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31. Transforming Language Brokering Policies at School: Learning from Students with Transnational Biographies
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Thoma, Nadja and Draxl, Anna-Katharina
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Within discourses on education and transnationalism, much importance has been given to language, both for the educational success of migrants and their transition into the labor market. Among the many perspectives on multilingualism, there is a growing body of research on language brokering. In contrast to professional interpreting, this is often associated with interpreting without formal qualifications or payment in mostly informal settings. However, language brokering is embedded in complex social structures, and students who interpret often act within complex power relations. In our article, we address experiences with education-related language brokering. While focusing on the perspectives of the students, we will address the roles they take during language brokering activities between different actors and the power relations they experience. Our data were collected as part of an ethnographic research project which aimed to explore the experiences of refugee students following their arrival in Austria and during the adjustment period in their new sociolinguistic and educational context. Empirically, the article is based on a data set of small stories and reflections about language brokering. The analysis was carried out through contrastive comparisons between different cases. The paper will conclude with suggestions on the introduction of critical language brokering practices and policies in educational institutions.
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- 2023
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32. When Youth Dialogue: A Pedagogic Framework for Changing the Conversation about Migration
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Duraisingh, Liz Dawes, Sheya, Sarah, and Kane, Emi
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How should educators teach about one of the most complex and pressing issues of our times? This paper presents an empirically-grounded framework to help educators understand the opportunities and challenges of engaging youth around the topic of migration, including migration involving refugees. It stresses the importance of inviting youth to dialogue in ways that involve "slowing down, sharing stories, and making connections." The framework emerged from a design-based research study involving an experimental online learning community and curriculum on the topic of human migration. Posts and comments involving 140 teens from seven countries were closely analyzed using a modified grounded theory approach that incorporated constructivist principles. 14 interviews with participating educators also informed the analysis. The framework proposes that youth be supported to develop (1) curiosity and engagement about individual migration stories and migration in general, (2) nuanced understanding of the complex and diverse factors that help shape historical and contemporary migration experiences, and (3) critical awareness of their own and others' perspectives on migration and migrants. A visual representation is provided. Specific examples of student dialogue are unpacked to illustrate the framework, with discussion of the following cognitive and affective challenges: "the Three O's" of overgeneralization, overconfidence, and othering. The paper argues that youth of all backgrounds need opportunities to learn about migration in ways that allow them to leverage their various experiences and perspectives and engage with one another in meaningful, authentic ways.
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- 2018
33. Resilience of African migrant women: Implications for mental health practice.
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Babatunde-Sowole OO, DiGiacomo M, Power T, Davidson PM, and Jackson D
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- Adult, Australia, Female, Humans, Qualitative Research, Health Personnel psychology, Mental Health, Refugees psychology, Transients and Migrants
- Abstract
Migrants from areas affected by war, especially refugee migrants, are susceptible to mental health issues. In addition to recognising trauma, health professionals, such as mental health nurses, need to be aware of the strength and resilience of refugees and migrants. The capacity to provide trauma-informed care that is shaped by the recognition of clients' strength and resilience is required/paramount to meet the current demand of multiculturalism emanating from an increased global migration. To facilitate increased awareness about West African women's resilience prior to migration and support trauma-informed care, we used a qualitative strength-based storytelling approach with 22 West African women residing in Sydney, Australia. Thematic analysis of the women's stories identified two major themes: When the World Falls Apart and Battered but Strong. Findings revealed that past personal experiences significantly influenced participants' strength and resilience and contributed to their mental health. Mental health professionals such as nurses can play an important role by incorporating knowledge about the resilience of migrants and refugees into providing appropriate trauma-informed care., (© 2019 Australian College of Mental Health Nurses Inc.)
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- 2020
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34. Educational Policies and Schooling for Arabic Speaking Refugee Children in Australia and Turkey
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Maadad, Nina and Yilmaz, Munube
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This paper aims to compare refugee settlement and education policies between two geographically and culturally distinct nations, Australia and Turkey. Due to its geographical position in the Middle East, Turkey now hosts millions of refugees especially following the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011. Australia also has a long history of hosting and supporting refugees from many countries and the Arabic-speaking nations are no exception. Conducting a comparative historical analysis, this study aims to fill the gap in our knowledge about the education policies and practices of both countries. Based on the expectations and needs of refugee students, it emerges that new policy practices and approaches backed by adequate academic and financial resources are required in both countries.
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- 2021
35. ESL in Australia -- A Chequered History
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Oliver, Rhonda, Rochecouste, Judith, and Nguyen, Bich
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A historical perspective of English as a second or additional language (ESL/EAL) in Australia reveals the field as in a constant state of flux, in spite of Australia's status as a nation of immigrants. This paper provides a contemporary review of the various phases of English language teaching in Australia for both adults and school-aged learners. It does so in the context of earlier pro-British monolingual attitudes, external global forces, ongoing changes in education policy, more recent national assessment regimes and the various global and local developments in the teaching of second languages. Historically the impetus for teaching English as a Second Language came with large-scale post-World War II arrivals from Europe. Language support for child migrants was only introduced some time later and has continued, although decreasing in availability in recent years. From the 1970s, more focussed programs were instigated with the arrival of refugees from war-torn countries. In this paper we describe the constant changes experienced by the providers and the recipients of English language instruction in Australia. Theoretically, the development of ESL instruction in Australia began with an essentially post-colonial perspective whereby the process of assimilation focussed on normalising the difference and/or deficit of non-English speakers and attaining the language skills of normative white middle-class native speakers (Pavlenko, 2003). Despite various investments in multiculturalism, the non-native English speaker in Australia remains the 'other', subject to sometimes intermittent and ad hoc funded assistance.
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- 2017
36. Traversing the Terrain of Higher Education: Experiences of Refugee Youth on the Inside
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Naidoo, Loshini
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This paper is based on a qualitative research study conducted across urban and regional Australian universities. The aim of the project was to investigate the enablers and constraints faced by refugee background students transitioning from high school to university. A refugee is defined as a person who has been forced to flee his or her country because of persecution, war, or violence [UNHCR(2016). "Global Trends: Forced Displacement in 2016." Accessed January 2019. http://www.refworld.org/docid/594aa38e0.html]. Studies on refugee background students in school contexts have been prolific but research of this population in higher education is still embryonic. This can be attributed to the fact that many refugee background students do not attain the necessary skills required for access to, and participation in, tertiary education in spite of their high aspirations for a university qualification. The paper will show, through the narratives of four refugee background university students that transition at university needs to be reconceptualised as holistic, extending beyond classroom walls and building on the resilience and assets they bring to learning. This is significant because it draws attention to the paradoxical relationship between the rights-based vision that many universities purport to have for their diverse student cohorts and the realities that refugee youth face at university on a daily basis.
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- 2021
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37. Refugees and Equity Policy in Australian Higher Education
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Molla, Tebeje
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Measured in per capita terms, Australia has one of the most generous refugee resettlement programs in the world. This paper investigates the extent to which refugee status is recognized as a category of disadvantage in Australian higher education. Drawing on a scalar view of policy work and Fraser's notion of misframing, the paper assesses the policy visibility of humanitarian entrants. It compares sectoral equity provisions with national and institutional arrangements that target refugees. The findings reveal scalar misalignments. That is, although national educational and multicultural initiatives recognize refugee status as a category of disadvantage, refugees remain hidden from the sectoral policy view. However, in translating sectoral policies, many universities have managed to maintain a balance between compliant enactment of equity strategies and responsive adjustment of equity targets. The paper also highlights instances of policy misframing -- equity provisions that target refugees are characterized by issue omissions and deficit accounts. It is further argued that the convergence of scalar misalignment and policy misframing constitutes a structural factor of disadvantage that inhibits higher education participation of refugees. For Australia to fully integrate humanitarian entrants, there is an urgent need for a streamlined policy response to the educational needs and aspirations of the group.
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- 2021
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38. Creating 'Advantageous' Spaces for Migrant and Refugee Youth in Regional Areas: A Local Approach
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Barnes, Melissa
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To alleviate overpopulation in Australia's metropolitan areas and counter population decline in regional areas, regional settlement of newly arrived migrants and refugees has emerged in recent policy debates. With a new federal government plan to introduce mandatory regional settlement for migrants, significant responsibility is placed on regional schools to cater for the unique needs of students from linguistically and culturally diverse backgrounds. Evoking Bourdieu's thinking tools, this paper examines the perspectives of principals and teachers from two regional schools in Victoria, Australia by exploring their beliefs and dispositions towards English as an Additional Language (EAL) students in mainstream classrooms and their capacity to build student capital within a regional education field. This paper argues that for regional settlement to be 'advantageous', regional schools must look from within to initiate a whole school approach to EAL support and professional development and promote community connections to create advantageous spaces for migrant and refugee youth.
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- 2021
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39. Educational Aspirations and Experiences of Refugee-Background African Youth in Australia: A Case Study
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Molla, Tebeje
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Access to educational opportunities is instrumental for social integration of refugee youth. This paper reports on a qualitative case study of educational aspirations and experiences of refugee-background African youth (RAY) in Melbourne, Australia. Guided by a capability approach to social justice, in-depth interviews were conducted with two groups of RAY: those who have transitioned to higher education (HE), and those who have not transitioned to HE after completing high school. The findings show that: (a) RAY share a firm belief in the value of HE; (b) but they are differently positioned to convert opportunities into achievements -- e.g. only the refugee youth with high levels of navigational capacity take advantage of the available flexible pathways to HE; (c) the stress of racism pervades the educational experiences of both groups; and (d) some African refugee youth have shown a considerable level of resilience in that, despite the challenges of racism, a history of disrupted educational trajectories and a lack of scholarly resources at home, they have transitioned to and thrived in HE. In light of these findings, the paper draws some implications for equity policies and practices.
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- 2021
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40. Maligned Mobilities, Absences and Emergencies: Refugee Education in Australia
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Matthews, Julie
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Refugees are seldom admired or applauded for their resolve and resilience, and their post and pre-migration experience rarely serves as the basis for the development of educational practice or policy solutions. Using a postcolonial theoretical framework this paper argues that while the maligned mobility and disparaged figure of the 'refugee' serves to establish and reconstruct exclusionary national identities, the same identities can be re-presented to offer new possibilities for inclusive education. Informed by southern epistemology and the sociology of absences and emergence (Boaventura de Sousa Santos, 2012. "Public Sphere and Epistemologies of the South", Africa Development. 37(1) 43-67; Boaventura de Sousa Santos, 1997 "Toward a Multicultural Conception of Human Rights", Zeitschrift fu¨r Rechtssoziologie, (10) 1-5), this paper discusses the anticipatory and emergent dimensions of refugee education. A focus on the pre- and post-settlement experience of refugees brings to light both their determination and strength as well as the complex and sometimes contradictory effect of racism and racialisation. Consideration of absences in relation to the anticipatory and emergent dimensions of education illuminate how inclusive education can serve as an instrument of resistance, transformation, and reconstruction. It shows how refugee mobility can open up possibilities for new forms of intelligibility, community and humanity.
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- 2021
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41. Distributive health literacy and medication management: A longitudinal qualitative study with Bhutanese former refugees in Tasmania.
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Murray L, Elmer S, Breen J, and Nash R
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- Australia, Bhutan, Chronic Disease, Health Services Accessibility, Humans, Language, Qualitative Research, Tasmania, Health Literacy, Refugees
- Abstract
Issue Addressed: Tasmania, Australia is home to a population of Bhutanese former refugees who have resettled since 2007. Their refugee journey and disrupted education opportunities have resulted in gaps in literacy in their primary language (Nepali), and many suffer one or more chronic conditions (ongoing communicable or noncommunicable diseases (NCDs)). This research explored how this community perceives chronic conditions and managed their medication using the concept of distributed health literacy., Methods: A longitudinal qualitative method was used whereby 15 former refugees and their carers were interviewed 3-4 times over 9 months. Data were thematically analysed using a hybrid approach of inductive and deductive coding and theme development., Results: Four themes related to distributed health literacy were identified. These were "barriers to medication literacy and adherence," "support people as health literacy mediators," "understandings of chronic disease" and "strengthening distributed health literacy." Participants described managing relatively low levels of knowledge about their chronic conditions and medications by appointing support people who acted as health literacy mediators. This resulted in interactions with health professionals, information gathering and medication use being enacted collectively between family members. Carers felt responsible for supporting others who were new to the Australian health system to learn new skills in addition to assisting with tasks such as informal interpreting. SO WHAT?: Interventions to improve the health literacy of former refugees should focus on collective critical health literacy action rather than just the functional health literacy of individuals. Health literacy mediators are a vital form of support for former refugees managing chronic conditions, so must be included in education and support programs., (© 2021 Australian Health Promotion Association.)
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- 2022
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42. Reflections on researching vulnerable populations: Lessons from a study with Bhutanese refugee women.
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Parajuli J and Horey D
- Subjects
- Australia, Bhutan, Female, Humans, Qualitative Research, Research Personnel, Vulnerable Populations, Refugees
- Abstract
This paper explores the critical roles of researchers in research involving vulnerable populations. Its purpose is to reflect on the complex nature of vulnerability of Bhutanese refugee women who had resettled in Australia involved in research looking at the barriers to accessing preventive cancer screening. First, we describe the vulnerabilities considered prior to the research study and the actions taken to protect participants while the study was conducted. Second, we discuss those vulnerabilities that we did not anticipate, but were subsequently revealed during the study and consequently included in the study findings. These vulnerabilities should be considered for future research involving similar populations. It is important for researchers to use appropriate research designs that enable the voice of vulnerable people to be heard and to use research strategies that ensure findings are robust and participants are protected and empowered. Potential implications include the development of research practices that take account of the sources of vulnerabilities and consideration of how different vulnerabilities can evolve and affect findings and research recommendations., (© 2021 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)
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- 2022
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43. The Vowel Matrix: Enhancing Literacy Development through an Innovative Approach to Teaching Pronunciation
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Playsted, Skye and Burri, Michael
- Abstract
The development of effective oral communication skills is a high priority for beginner-level, adult English language learners, and clear pronunciation is an essential part of this development. The perception and production of English vowel sounds can be a particularly challenging area of pronunciation for beginner-level learners. If adult learners are also preliterate, this aspect of pronunciation may require explicit teaching, as phonological awareness can be linked to literacy development. However, relatively little has been documented on teaching pronunciation to lower-level proficiency learners. Inspired by haptic (movement + touch) pronunciation instruction, this paper describes the Vowel Matrix, an innovative means used to teach aspects of pronunciation to a class of preliterate adult learners from Arabic-speaking backgrounds in Australia. We discuss how the Vowel Matrix can support learners' literacy development by drawing their awareness to short vowel sounds in newly learned vocabulary using gesture, movement, and touch. Following this, practical teaching suggestions are made to enhance literacy development.
- Published
- 2021
44. Catering to Children and Youth from Refugee Backgrounds in Australia: Deep-Rooted Constraints
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Xu, Yue and Saito, Eisuke
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Refugee-background youth in the Australian context have long been confronted with a series of challenges surrounding their living and educational conditions. However, limited research has been conducted to examine the underlying factors of such problems. This paper critically explores possible factors that contribute to or intensify the challenges that refugee-background children and youth face in Australia by scrutinising related legal documents and education policies (e.g. inclusive and language transition policies). It is argued that the living and learning crisis among refugee-background youth in Australia is a result of: (a) restrictive refugee law; (b) incomplete education policy; and (c) deep-rooted political and historical views on refugees.
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- 2023
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45. Exploring Critical Media Literacy with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Youth in Australia: Recontextualisation of School Learning in Home Environments
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Jennifer Alford
- Abstract
This paper reports on an instrumental case study exploring what migrant and refugee-background youth in Australia make of the critical media literacy they learn in school, and what critical media practices they use out of school. It addresses the perennial question of the relationship between school literacy learning and everyday literate lives, paying deliberate attention to the experiences of youth whose diversity is underrepresented in research. Interviews with two English teachers and focus groups with culturally and linguistically diverse Year 10 students were analysed using content analysis and the concept of recontextualization. Findings are that these youth see significant value in their critical literacy learning at school, and they report utilising the types of critical reading/viewing skills they experience at school but for different purposes. They frequently use five main strategies for critical reading/viewing out of school: (1) using awareness of myriad multimodal semiotic features to examine representations of products and information; (2) evaluating trustworthiness; (3) fact checking; (4) doing further research; (5) identifying attempts at positioning. This research brings in-school and out-of-school domains together to understand the connections between critical literacy practices undertaken in school, and those reshaped by immigrant youth, who are still learning English, out of school.
- Published
- 2023
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46. Capital as Vocational Currency in Refugee Migrant Education: Intersection of Language Training, Work Experience and Vocational Qualifications
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Hsieh, Yi-Jung Teresa
- Abstract
For refugee migrants, proficiency in the language of their host country is a significant factor affecting their chance of integration and employment in their new society. For this reason, many Western nations provide host-country language training for such migrants. Australia thus offers English language training within its Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector to assist in refugee settlement. This study draws on qualitative interview data collected from a group of male Muslim refugee migrants attending these Australian training programs. Applying a Bourdieusian analysis to the data, the study's findings suggest that language training alone does not meet their linguistic and vocational needs. The paper argues first that the current language training programs need to be reconceptualised to consider the intersection of language training, work experience and vocational qualification; and second, that there must be a confluence of these three factors if refugee migrants are to have any chance of gaining meaningful employment opportunities. The notion of capital as 'vocational currency' is proposed as a new term to identify the complex relationships within this confluence. The article concludes with discussion of the implications of this study for language training within these VET programs.
- Published
- 2023
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47. University Transition Challenges for First Year Domestic CALD Students from Refugee Backgrounds: A Case Study from an Australian Regional University
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Kong, Eric, Harmsworth, Sarah, Rajaeian, Mohammad Mehdi, Parkes, Geoffrey, Bishop, Sue, AlMansouri, Bassim, and Lawrence, Jill
- Abstract
Culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) is used broadly and inclusively to describe communities with diverse language, ethnic background, nationality, dress, traditions, food, societal structures, art and religion characteristics. Domestic CALD people are either refugees or voluntary migrants and have obtained permanent residency or citizenship. This paper identifies the key issues, challenges and needs of first year domestic CALD students from refugee backgrounds at a multi-campus regional university in Queensland, Australia. The term refugee background is used in the paper as the students are no longer refugees having successfully transitioned from refugee status to being permanent residents. Qualitative data was collected through one-on-one semi-structured interviews and focus groups with domestic CALD students from refugee backgrounds, and from key informants including teaching, administrative, and senior management staff members. Other than language and differences in education styles, this cohort of students faced other challenges, particularly in a regional setting, including socio-cultural issues, technology issues, family and health challenges and limited staff awareness of refugee needs. The findings provide insights into how Australian regional university policy makers could develop effective strategies, practices, procedures and policies to support CALD students from refugee backgrounds and to improve their retention and progression.
- Published
- 2016
48. Commission for International Adult Education (CIAE) of the American Association for Adult and Continuing Education (AAACE). Proceedings of the 2016 International Pre-Conference (65th, Albuquerque, New Mexico, November 6-8, 2016)
- Author
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American Association for Adult and Continuing Education (AAACE), Commission for International Adult Education (CIAE), Boucouvalas, Marcie, and Avoseh, Mejai
- Abstract
The Commission on International Adult Education (CIAE) of the American Association for Adult and Continuing Education (AAACE) provides a forum for the discussion of international issues related to adult education in general, as well as adult education in various countries around the globe. The following purposes summarize the work of the Commission: (1) To develop linkages with adult education associations in other countries; (2) To encourage exchanges between AAACE and associations from other countries; (3) To invite conference participation and presentations by interested adult educators around the world; (4) To discuss how adult educators from AAACE and other nations may cooperate on projects of mutual interest and benefit to those we serve. The Commission holds its annual meeting in conjunction with the AAACE conference. The following papers were presented at the 65th conference: (1) Self-Directed Learning Readiness among Undergraduate Students at Saudi Electronic University in Saudi Arabia (Mousa S. Alfaifi); (2) Career Transitions and Professional Development of Bulgarian Immigrants in the United States (Iva Angelova); (3) Preserving the Social Cohesiveness and Lifelong Learning Mission of Scotland's Public Libraries: Evaluating the Scottish National Library Strategy through the Capabilities Approach (Kiran Badwal); (4) Factors Associated with International Graduate Students' Academic Performance: A Comparative Analysis between the First Semester and the Subsequent Semester in the U.S. (Muhittin Cavusoglu, Williemae White, Waynne B. James, and Cihan Cobanoglu); (5) A Framework for International Student Participation in Postsecondary U.S. English Language Programs (Valeriana Colón); (6) How a Visual Language of Abstract Shapes Facilitates Cultural and International Border Crossings (Arthur Thomas Conroy, III); (7) Adult Education and Training Programs for Older Adults in the U.S.: Country Comparisons Using PIAAC Data (Phyllis A. Cummins and Suzanne R. Kunkel); (8) The Power of Relationship Building in International Short-Term Field Study Experiences at the Graduate Level (Brittany Davis and Joellen E. Coryell); (9) A History of Oral and Written Storytelling in Nigeria (Simeon Edosomwan and Claudette M. Peterson); (10) Reflections after Working at the Center for Refugees of Conetta, Italy: Practice and Competencies Needed (Mario Giampaolo and Antonella Pascali); (11) Sustainability Adult Education: Learning to Re-Create the World (Wendy Griswold); (12) New Perspectives from a Quasi-English Translation of Dusan Savicevic's 2000 Work on Roots in the Development of Andragogy: The 2016 Update of History and Philosophy of Andragogy (John A. Henschke); (13) Against All Odds: Socio-Cultural Influence on Nontraditional International Learners Pursuing Higher Education in the United States (Yvonne Hunter-Johnson); (14) Exploring the Transformational Learning Experiences of Bahamian Students Studying in the United States (Yvonne Hunter-Johnson and Norissa Newton); (15) Designing Professional Learning Communities through Understanding the Beliefs of Learning (Jie Ke, Rui Kang, and Di Liu); (16) Olympic Sports Coaching Education: An International Coach's Perspective (Cameron Kiosoglous); (17) Global Leadership Competencies in Selected Adult Education Graduate Programs in the United States and Western Europe (Arthur Ray McCrory and Waynne B. James); (18) Adult Development: A Global Imperative (Linda E. Morris); (19) Henry Carmichael [1796 to 1862]: Australia's Pioneer Adult Educator (Roger K. Morris); (20) Do College Instructors Have Implicit Bias toward Latino-Accented English Speakers? (Eunkyung Na); (21) Experimenting with Theory of Change for Interculturality and Mutual Learning in Adult Education (Annalisa L. Raymer); (22) The Key-Role of Teachers within the Italian School-Work Alternation Programs (Concetta Tino and Monica Fedeli); (23) An Analysis of Europe within Adult Education Literature (Susan M. Yelich Biniecki); and (24) Participatory Community Education to Mitigate Human-Elephant Conflict in Botswana (Jill Zarestky and Leslie E. Ruyle). (Individual papers contain references.)
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- 2016
49. International Psychological Applications Conference and Trends (InPACT) 2016 (Lisbon, Portugal, April 30-May 2, 2016)
- Author
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World Institute for Advanced Research and Science (WIARS) (Portugal), Pracana, Clara, and Wang, Michael
- Abstract
We are delighted to welcome you to the International Psychological Applications Conference and Trends (InPACT) 2016, taking place in Lisbon, Portugal, from 30 of April to 2 of May, 2016. Psychology, nowadays, offers a large range of scientific fields where it can be applied. The goal of understanding individuals and groups (mental functions and behavioral standpoints), from this academic and practical scientific discipline, is aimed ultimately to benefit society. This International Conference seeks to provide some answers and explore the several areas within the Psychology field, new developments in studies and proposals for future scientific projects. The goal is to offer a worldwide connection between psychologists, researchers and lecturers, from a wide range of academic fields, interested in exploring and giving their contribution in psychological issues. The conference is a forum that connects and brings together academics, scholars, practitioners and others interested in a field that is fertile in new perspectives, ideas and knowledge. There is an extensive variety of contributors and presenters, which can supplement the view of the human essence and behavior, showing the impact of their different personal, academic and cultural experiences. This is, certainly, one of the reasons there are nationalities and cultures represented, inspiring multi-disciplinary collaborative links, fomenting intellectual encounter and development. InPACT 2016 received 332 submissions, from 37 different countries, reviewed by a double-blind process. Submissions were prepared to take form of Oral Presentations, Posters, Virtual Presentations and Workshops. It was accepted for presentation in the conference 96 submissions (29% acceptance rate). The conference also includes: (1) A keynote presentation from Prof. Dr. Richard Bentall (Institute of Psychology, Health & Society of the University of Liverpool, United Kingdom); (2) Three Special Talks, one from Emeritus Professor Carlos Amaral Dias (University of Coimbra, Director of Instituto Superior Miguel Torga, Vice-President of the Portuguese Association of Psychoanalysis and Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, Private practitioner of psychiatry and psychoanalysis, Portugal) and Prof. Clara Pracana (Full and Training member of the Portuguese Association of Psychoanalysis and Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, Portugal), another from Emeritus Professor Michael Wang (University of Leicester, United Kingdom), and a third one from Dr. Conceição Almeida (Founder of the Portuguese Association of Psychoanalysis and Psychoanalytical Psychotherapy, and Vice-President of the Board. Member of the Teaching Committee, Portugal); (3) An Invited Talk from Dr. Ana Vasconcelos (SAMS--Serviços de Assistência Médico-Social do Sindicato dos Bancários de Sul e Ilhas, founding member of the Portuguese Association of Psychoanalysis and Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, and member of NPA-Neuropshycanalysis Association, Portugal). Thus, we would like to express our gratitude to all our invitees. This volume is composed by the abstracts of the International Psychological Applications Conference and Trends (InPACT 2016), organized by the World Institute for Advanced Research and Science (W.I.A.R.S.). This conference addresses different categories inside Applied Psychology area and papers fit broadly into one of the named themes and sub-themes. To develop the conference program six main broad-ranging categories had been chosen, which also cover different interest areas: (1) In CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY: Emotions and related psychological processes; Assessment; Psychotherapy and counseling; Addictive behaviors; Eating disorders; Personality disorders; Quality of life and mental health; Communication within relationships; Services of mental health; and Psychopathology. (2) In EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY: Language and cognitive processes; School environment and childhood disorders; Parenting and parenting related processes; Learning and technology; Psychology in schools; Intelligence and creativity; Motivation in classroom; Perspectives on teaching; Assessment and evaluation; and Individual differences in learning. (3) In SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY: Cross-cultural dimensions of mental disorders; Employment issues and training; Organizational psychology; Psychology in politics and international issues; Social factors in adolescence and its development; Social anxiety and self-esteem; Immigration and social policy; Self-efficacy and identity development; Parenting and social support; and Addiction and stigmatization. (4) In LEGAL PSYCHOLOGY: Violence and trauma; Mass-media and aggression; Intra-familial violence; Juvenile delinquency; Aggressive behavior in childhood; Internet offending; Working with crime perpetrators; Forensic psychology; Violent risk assessment; and Law enforcement and stress. (5) In COGNITIVE AND EXPERIMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY: Perception, memory and attention; Decision making and problem-solving; Concept formation, reasoning and judgment; Language processing; Learning skills and education; Cognitive Neuroscience; Computer analogies and information processing (Artificial Intelligence and computer simulations); Social and cultural factors in the cognitive approach; Experimental methods, research and statistics; and Biopsychology. (6) In PSYCHOANALYSIS AND PSYCHOANALYTICAL PSYCHOTHERAPY: Psychoanalysis and psychology; The unconscious; The Oedipus complex; Psychoanalysis of children; Pathological mourning; Addictive personalities; Borderline organizations; Narcissistic personalities; Anxiety and phobias; Psychosis; Neuropsychoanalysis. The proceedings contain the results of the research and developments conducted by authors who focused on what they are passionate about: to promote growth in research methods intimately related to Psychology and its applications. It includes an extensive variety of contributors and presenters by sharing their different personal, academic and cultural experiences. Authors will be invited to publish extended contributions for a book to be published by inScience Press. We would like to express thanks to all the authors and participants, the members of the academic scientific committee, partners and, of course, to the organizing and administration team for making and putting this conference together. (Individual papers contain references.) [Abstract modified to meet ERIC guidelines.]
- Published
- 2016
50. Proceedings of the Commission for International Adult Education (CIAE) International Pre-Conference (64th, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, November 15-17, 2015)
- Author
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American Association for Adult and Continuing Education (AAACE), Commission for International Adult Education (CIAE), Boucouvalas, Marcie, and Avoseh, Mejai
- Abstract
The Commission on International Adult Education (CIAE) of the American Association for Adult and Continuing Education (AAACE) provides a forum for the discussion of international issues related to adult education in general, as well as adult education in various countries around the globe. The following purposes summarize the work of the Commission: (1) To develop linkages with adult education associations in other countries; (2) To encourage exchanges between AAACE and associations from other countries; (3) To invite conference participation and presentations by interested adult educators around the world; and (4) To discuss how adult educators from AAACE and other nations may cooperate on projects of mutual interest and benefit to those the Commission serves. The Commission holds its annual meeting in conjunction with the AAACE conference. Following a message from the AAACE President, Jean E. Fleming, these proceedings contain the following papers presented at the 2015 CIAE International Pre-Conference: (1) Tools That Matter: The Assessment of Online Resources for International Students (Valeriana Colón); (2) Faculty Development and Teaching International Students: A Cross-National Study of Faculty Perspectives in a Global Era (Joellen E. Coryell, Monica Fedeli, Jonathan Tyner, and Daniela Frison); (3) Comparing Italian Pre-Service and In-Service Teachers' Beliefs on Competence Based Learning (Mario Giampaolo, Alessio Surian, Federico Batini, Marco Bartolucci); (4) Cutting Edge Discoveries for the 2015: Capsule of a History and Philosophy of Andragogy (John A. Henschke); (5) Yes I Need Help! A Day in the Journey of Adult Learners Pursuing Higher Education: A Caribbean Perspective (Yvonne Hunter-Johnson and Sharlene Smith); (6) Becoming a Lifelong Learning City: Lessons from a Provincial City in South Korea (In Tak Kwon, Junghwan Kim, and Doo Hun Lim); (7) Education Interrupted: Kosovo 1980-1999 (Gjylbehare Llapi and Claudette M. Peterson); (8) Diversity to Inclusion: Expanding Workplace Capability Thinking around Aboriginal Career Progression (Kaye Morris); (9) So Much More Than a Humble Hall: World War One Memorials in NSW Schools of Arts & Mechanics' Institutes (Roger K. Morris, Robert J. Parkinson, and Melanie J. Ryan); (10) Implicit Attitudes of International and American Adult Students toward Black and White Teachers (Eunkyung Na, Tony X. Tan, Travis Marn, and Rica Ramirez); (11) Designing and Implementing Neighborhoods of Learning in Cork's UNESCO Learning City Project (Séamus Ó Tuama and Siobhán O'Sullivan); (12) Learning Lives of North Korean Young Defectors: A Preliminary Study of Reconstructing Identity in Career Development (Hyewon Park, Junghwan Kim, and Fred M. Schied); (13) Andragogy through Social Enterprise: Engaging Students in the Learning Process Is Borderless (Victoria Queen); (14) Leadership outside the Box: The Power of Nurturing the Human Spirit at Work in an Era of Globalization (Nancy Kymn Harvin Rutigliano and Alexandria S. Frye); (15) Lifelong Learning and Vocational Education: Institutional Requirements and University Didactical Concept of a Master Degree Program "Teaching Qualification for Vocational Education in the Field of Health Care and Nursing" at the Otto-von-Guericke-University (Germany) (Astrid Seltrecht); (16) Teaching Nonliterate Adults in Oral Cultures: Findings from Practitioners (LaNette W. Thompson); (17) Evolution and Revolutions of Adult Learning: Capacity Building in Adult and Non-Formal Education in Nigeria (Chinwe U. Ugwu); and (18) Evolution and Revolution of Adult Learning: Exposition of Open and Distance Learning in Nigeria (Nneka A. Umezulike). [Individual papers contain references. Rashmi Sharma provided editorial assistance.]
- Published
- 2015
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