Child and Youth Migration Lunchtime Conversation Series: Education

Child and Youth Migration Lunchtime Conversation Series: Exploring educational inclusion and supports for children and youth in migration

A discussion with researchers and practitioners working on current issues that face children and young people in migration.

In the height of what was coined the ‘refugee crisis’, there was a heightened awareness of, and much-needed attention given to, the issues that face children and young people in migration in different contexts. However, in more recent years, focus has shifted away from these issues.

The Children's Research Network Special Interest Group on Children and Youth Migration are holding a series of online lunchtime conversations in 2021 to bring these issues back into focus and create a renewed awareness of the contemporary challenges that continue to face children and youth in migration. The conversations will tackle diverse themes and contexts providing insight from both research and practice.

This first conversation event will take place on 25 March 2021 at 1pm. It will explore the challenges faced by children and young people with a migrant background in adapting to the educational system in Ireland and measures to support their inclusion in schools. The discussion will be based on input from representatives of the IMMERSE and EDNIP projects that focus on educational integration of migrant children in Ireland.

Agenda

13:00 Welcome

13:05 Integration Mapping of Refugee and Migrant Children in Schools and other Experiential Environments in Europe (IMMERSE)

Dr. Reana Maier, Postdoctoral Researcher, Institute of Social Sciences of the 21st Century, University College Cork

13:20 Embracing Diversity, Nurturing Inclusion Project (EDNIP)

Dr. Ann Higgins, Coordinator of Transforming Education through Dialogue (TED), Mary Immaculate College

Áine Lyne, EDNIP Project Leader, Mary Immaculate College

13:35 Discussion

14:00 Close

(Zoom link will be sent to all registrants on the morning of the event)

Integration Mapping of Refugee and Migrant Children (IMMERSE) is a Horizon2020 project aimed at mapping the socio-educational inclusion of migrant and refugee children across Europe. Through primary data collection in six countries – Ireland, Spain, Italy, Greece, Belgium, and Germany – and re-use of key secondary data from national and European sources, IMMERSE is developing an interactive dashboard of 30 critical indicators of socio-educational integration. These indicators span the micro level, such as the child’s own happiness, sense of belonging and friendships, to the meso level, such as school supports for newly arrived migrant children, to the macro, such as legislation and policy around access to rights.

Primary data collection is large-scale and quantitative through specially-designed questionnaires for children, parents, teachers, and principals administered in schools and other educational environments and qualitative through interviews, focus groups, and other creative methods with smaller groups of children who are likely to be underrepresented in the large-scale data collection, like unaccompanied minors. IMMERSE is also compiling an online digital database of best practice exemplars and a digital community space for anyone interested in the area of education, migration, and integration of children. This research will inform policy recommendations at European and national levels.

Embracing Diversity, Nurturing Integration, Learning for Life Project (EDNIP) is a school-based research/intervention project developed in response to the increasing diversity in schools. EDNIP is led by the Transforming Education through Dialogue (TED) Project, Curriculum Development Unit (CDU), Mary Immaculate College (MIC), Limerick. EDNIP was initially funded in 2017 through the Asylum Migration Integration Fund (AMIF, 75%), with match funding (25%) secured through a trust.

Five DEIS Band 1 primary schools in Limerick City self-selected to participate in the project. The schools have a combined enrolment of 995 children, from 40 countries, speaking 26 languages and practicing 17 religions. EDNIP is managed by a Project Management Committee (PMC) comprising MIC, the five school Principals, the Department of Education (DE), Tusla Educational Support Services (TESS), Limerick City and County Council, Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board (LCETB) and Limerick Education Centre (LEC).

Children's Research Network Special Interest Group for Child and Youth Migration

Formed in October 2019, the Child and Youth Migration Special Interest Group (CYMSIG) of the Children’s Research Network provides a platform for people working on or interested in related research, evidence-informed practice and policy to build networks, share information, and promote best practice on all matters related to child and youth migration. Membership is made up of members of CRN and represent a range of sectors, including academia / independent research; NGOs; government/statutory bodies; community, voluntary and social enterprise entities; service providers.

The CYMSIG welcomes into its membership anyone working on or interested in research, evidence-informed practice and policy on matters related to child and youth migration.

The SIG understands children and young people in migration in broad terms, including (but not limited to) migrant, displaced, asylum-seeking, refugee, 1.5 / 2nd generation, and Roma, children and youth. Recognising the need to gain a greater picture on the situation of young people in all areas of: education/training, social inclusion & health & wellbeing, the SIG adopts the European Commission’s definition on youth which includes individuals up until 30 years of age following youth indicators established by the commission’s ad-hoc expert group in January 2010.

For more information, see the CYMSIG page on the CRN website.

About the Children’s Research Network

The Children’s Research Network (CRN) supports and connects a broad range of professionals with an interest in research and evidence-based policy and practice to better understand and improve the lives of children and families across the island of Ireland.

Membership benefits:

• Gain insights into developments in research, practice and policy through our workshops, seminars and conferences
• Build your networks and develop your profile
• Publish and disseminate your research
• Enjoy CRN member access to events and networking opportunities at CRN’s host organisation, Trinity Research in Childhood Centre.

See: www.childrensresearchnetwork.org

Annual membership fees**

Student / unwaged €15/~£13*

Part-time employed / retired €25/~£23*

Full-time employed €30/~£28*

*approximate GBP conversion

Become a member

Children's Research Network is hosted by Trinity Research in Childhood Centre, Trinity College Dublin. For more information, see: www.tcd.ie/tricc.