For learning and competence CHANCES – Developing career counselling services to prevent exclusion of young people Matti Taajamo Steering Group Meeting of the Transnational CHOICES Project Consortiumi

2 For learning and competence Multiprofessional cooperation to support the integration of immigrants into working life  project aims to develop multiprofessional collaboration of different officials/authorities working in various sectors  research and development on the work practices of people working with immigrants  project provides training and consultation for differnt officials working with immigrants

3 For learning and competence Themes of the interview (for people working with immigrants)  needs for training in multicultural guidance and counselling  good practices in immigrant work  regional network and multiprofessional co-operation

4 For learning and competence Awareness of cultural differences and enhancing one’s own cultural sensitivity  How to better understand a person coming into a foreign country and different culture  Major cultural blocks in the world: western, Islamic, Indian, oriental and African  Immigrants as a heterogeneous group – individual experiences  Knowledge facilitates communication with immigrants and prevents misunderstandings

5 For learning and competence Immigrants’ engagement in education  What does it call for from a teacher and teaching? –Heterogeneous teaching groups as a challenge –Individual teaching arrangements/differentiation of teaching –Practical pedagogical/didactic knowledge

6 For learning and competence Important to learn Finnish  How language learning is/can be supported? –Preparatory immigrant classes –Finnish as a second language –Various language courses –Other means?  What hinders language learning? –In-group formation – Motivational factors

7 For learning and competence Resource allocation  Resources in terms of money, time and personal capacity  Resources vary by locations and institutions  Co-operation needed –It is wished that guidance really belonged to everybody –Everyone working with immigrants had a shared basic knowledge about immigrant issues

8 For learning and competence Attitudes  Immigrants’ experiences of the Finnish attitudinal climate affect the intergration prosess – cultural literacy –Finns’ attitudes and influencing them –Immigrants attitudes  Racisms, marginalisation and loneliness –Good communication is the best remedy at the school level

9 For learning and competence Co-operation and networking  No author can alone respond to customers’ need  Problem areas relate to the sufficiency, flow and coordination of information  Solution: multiprofessional and cross-sectoral/cross- departmental co-operation?

10 For learning and competence Good practices  Communication/encountering skills  Different kinds of projects  Practical guidance and counselling