OLS FOR REFUGEES Online Linguistic Support (OLS) for Refugees Dr. Christina Kontogoulidou University of Piraeus

1st Information Meeting OLS FOR REFUGEES University of Piraeus - Municipality of Piraeus - NGO “Organization Earth” 1st Information Meeting Dr. Christina Kontogoulidou University of Piraeus

Purpose Online Linguistic Support (OLS) for Refugees The OLS program is designed in order to offer to refugees the possibility of gaining capacities in tests and online courses in a volunteer concept so as to help them to incorporate successfully to the Educational and Instruction Systems in Europe. Dr. Christina Kontogoulidou University of Piraeus

Online Linguistic Support (OLS) for Refugees What is the criteria for eligibility? What do we intend by "refugee”? According to the definition in Art. 2 of Directive 2011/95/EU: "In the EU context, either a third-country national who, owing to a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership of a particular social group, is outside the country of nationality and is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail themselves of the protection of that country, or a stateless person, who, being outside of the country of former habitual residence for the same reasons as mentioned above, is unable or, owing to such fear, unwilling to return to it, and to whom Art. 12 (Exclusion) of Directive 2011/95/EU does not apply." This definition includes individuals having already obtained refugee status after asylum application, individuals having received a positive asylum decision with refugee status, temporary/subsidiary protection or humanitarian protection, asylum applicants, without age limits. Dr. Christina Kontogoulidou University of Piraeus

Online Linguistic Support (OLS) for Refugees The OLS is currently available in twelve languages: German, English, Spanish, French, Italian, Dutch, Czech, Danish, Greek, Polish, Portuguese and Swedish. Language courses in the first six languages are available from A1 to C2. Czech, Danish, Greek, Polish and Swedish language courses are offered at A1 level only, while Portuguese language courses are available up until B2 level. Refugees who wish to receive an OLS licence can choose any of the twelve languages. It is up to the beneficiary institution to indicate this choice directly in the OLS, based on the needs of the refugee and the levels available for the different languages. Dr. Christina Kontogoulidou University of Piraeus

Online Linguistic Support (OLS) for Refugees The Erasmus+ OLS is now available, free of charge, to around 100,000 refugees over the next 3 years. Participation in the OLS for Refugees is voluntary. The OLS is already compatible with all major mobile Internet browsers and can be accessed via any mobile device (smartphone or tablet) with an Internet connection. Refugees can therefore easily use the OLS language courses, even without access to a computer. The techniques that support this educational innovation occur the sector of Live Coaching(online MOOCs, tutoring sessions and forums). Dr. Christina Kontogoulidou University of Piraeus

Online Linguistic Support (OLS) for Refugees The allocation of OLS licences to refugees follows the same steps as for Erasmus+ participants. Refugees can be identified by you or by NGOs/other organisations in contact with them, to our occasion the NGO Organization Earth. University of Piraeus ,with the aid of the beneficiaries , is responsible for the allocation of OLS licences (e-mail gathering, provide 1st assessment and the licence for the online courses). Also there will be given licences to the Operators who will in their turn distribute the refugees’ licences, so as to do the monitoring to each person and support the procedure. The Operators can be either people from University or from the NGO/other organizations. University of Piraeus is not obliged to provide computer or other types of technical support, but if it exists it can be provided volunteerily. Dr. Christina Kontogoulidou University of Piraeus

Online Linguistic Support (OLS) for Refugees Our University is going to create an INFO POINT with specific time schedule where the refugees will be able to use Computers. Operators ,that will come from the Municipality of Piraeus,University of Piraeus and the NGO “Organization Earth”, will be trained about the way they will inform, educate and support the participants. Dr. Christina Kontogoulidou University of Piraeus

We obtain : 500 Licenses -25 OPERATORS UNIVERSITY OF PIRAEUS MUNICIPALITY OF PIRAEUS-ORGANIZATION EARTH Dr. Christina Kontogoulidou University of Piraeus

Thank you for your attention! UNIVERSITY OF PIRAEUS Head of the International Relations Office Dr. Christina Kontogoulidou Email: publ@unipi.gr, ckonto@unipi.gr