UNIVERSITA’ DEGLI STUDI DI PERUGIA 

The University of Perugia, founded in 1308, obtained a formal imperial recognition in 1355, when Emperor Charles I granted Perugia the permanent right to have a University and to award degrees to students from all nations. In the 14th century, the University offered degrees in two fields: Law and General Arts. Today, one of the most accredited state universities, the Università degli Studi di Perugia holds a place of prestige within the European context and has collaborative relationships with other institutions worldwide. With 16 Departments (including courses in Assisi and Terni) and a wide number of degree programmes, the University of Perugia carries out intense scientific research.

The humanistic departments have been coordinating, during the last ten years, various EU funded projects among which the LLP project “SPICES – Social Promotion of Intercultural Communication Expertise and Skills” (224945-CP-1-2005-1-IT-GRUNDTVIG-G11). SPICES, focusing on the intercultural communication in the bureaucratic-institutional sector, is nominated for a European Lifelong Learning Award for Quality in Mobility and honoured with a SILVER AWARD (June 2008). Among the first 20 projects which have been chosen to participate in the exhibition on Creativity and Innovation (March 2009), SPICES features at the EC during the Conference on “Creativity and Innovation – Best practices from EU Programmes”.

Based on SPICES, the GLP project “e-SPICES – electronic Social Promotion of Intercultural Communication Expertise and Skills” (2008-1-IT2-GRU06-00547-1) aims at exchanging best practices in intercultural communication within bureaucratic-institutional contexts and exploiting the methodology resulting from the previous SPICES project. “BRIDGE-IT – Be Relevant to Intercultural Diversity Generation – Integration Team” (510101-LLP-1-2010-1-IT-GRUNDTVIG-GMP) applies the methodology elaborated in SPICES creating online Learning Events in intercultural communication both for migrants and public officials. The current Department of Philosophy, Social, Human and Educational Sciences, established in 2014, was also coordinating a CMP “European Assessment Protocol for Children’s SEL Skills – EAP_SEL” (527206-LLP-1-2012-IT- COMENIUS-CMP) and an LMP “Organizing New Skill for Creative Enterprise and Networks in Europe – ON SCENE” (527889-LLP-1-2012-IT-LEONARDO-LMP) and is now coordinating the DG Justice project “RADAR – Regulating AntiDiscrimination and AntiRacism”  (JUST/2013/FRAC/AG/6271).

The Department of Philosophy, Social, Human and Educational Sciences covering a wide-range of sectors and disciplines (among which Philosophy, Pedagogy, Linguistics, Sociology, Anthropology)  is committed to interdisciplinary approaches and innovation that ensure students the synergies needed for the acquisition of flexible educational training based on a mixture of knowledge and skills. These prepare students to meet the demand of the labour market and to satisfy the needs for innovation expressed by employers in private and public sectors.

On the international level, the University remains firmly committed to developing collaborative relationships with European and non-European Universities, to facilitate and improve international advanced study opportunities for its students. The European Commission has recently awarded the University the prestigious ECTS label for excellence in the application of the European Credit Transfer System in all of its degree programs – first and second cycles and single cycle – confirming the high quality of its expanded international endeavours.

ATHENS NETWORK OF COLLABORATING EXPERTS (ANCE)    

ANCE  is a non-governmental, non-profit organisation based in Athens, Greece that was established in 1996 and is working for the promotion of sustainable development and the support of vulnerable social groups in the European Union and the developing countries. In collaboration with other NGOs, local authorities, Universities, Research Institutions etc., ANCE implements actions aiming at:

• alleviating poverty and social exclusion
• protecting human rights
• combating racism and xenophobia
• promoting equal opportunities
• promoting intercultural dialogue
• supporting community development
• preserving the environment

COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE – DIOPHANTUS

The Computer Technology Institute and Press “Diophantus”, founded in 1985 as the Computer Technology Institute, is a research and technology) organization focusing on research and development in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), It operates under the supervision of the Hellenic Ministry of Education and its mission is to conduct research and development activities and to disseminate the results to the lnformation Society. CTI’s research activity focuses both on basic research areas (such as computational technology, database management, knowledge and data engineering, algorithmic issues of communication networks, cryptography) and in applied research areas (such as educational technology, multimedia technology. digital libraries, telematics and computer networks), CTI co-operates with numerous organizations at national and international level, including universities, research institutes, private sector enterprises, and user-organizations. It currently employs approximately 250 individuals, including faculty members, researchers, technical and administrative personnel as well as external fellow researchers, CTI has successfully completed over 250 R&O projects and its research personnel has been producing on a yearly basis over 80 publications/announcements in international scientific journals and conferences. CTI is governed by a Board of Directors. The Chair of the Board is appointed by the Greek Minister of Education. CTI’s revenues come mainly from two sources: a) National funding in order to provide consulting and services to the Greek Ministry of Education, b) EU funding.

PLACOWKA KSZTALCENIA USTAWICZNEGO EST

EST is a continuing education provider founded in 1994 offering the following range of courses: foreign language, ICT workshops and communication skills. This is a comprehensive programme teaching key competences to adult students, including disadvantaged learners.

The following aspects of the EST expertise put us in a strong position to take the assigned responsibilities:

• substantial experience in evaluating projects co-funded by community programmes, including multilateral Leonardo da Vinci and Grundtvig projects as well as ESP training projects 
• experience in the field of the RADAR project: EST has run intercultural communication training to administrative staff of AE establishments (2 Grundtvig courses)
• established network of contacts with AE umbrella organisations throughout Europe.

HERIOT-WATT UNIVERSITY

Heriot-Watt University has a history dating back to 1821, when it was initially founded as the Edinburgh School of Arts. Almost two centuries later, Heriot-Watt has 5 campuses: 3 in the UK (Edinburgh, Scottish Borders and Orkney), 1 in Dubai and 1 in Malaysia. We also have the largest international student cohort in Scotland with about one third of our students coming from countries outside the UK.

Heriot-Watt consistently achieves high ranking across a number of key university league tables. It has also been named as The Sunday Times Scottish University of the Year twice

Our Department of Languages and Intercultural Studies was founded in 1970 with a primary focus in the field of translation and interpreting studies. The Department is one of only four UK university departments that have been granted membership of CIUTI, an international body which brings together universities which specialise in translating and interpreter training. Our research focuses on our established and distinctive strengths of translation and interpretation, as well as building the emerging areas of living cultural heritage and language policy. Our research is structured into these four areas, which are supported by our two research centres: the Centre for Translation and Interpreting Studies in Scotland (CTISS) and the Intercultural Research Centre (IRC). 

KEY & KEY COMMUNICATIONS

he Key & Key Communications, founded in 1994, is a cultural and scientific non-profit association, active in the wide field of communication typologies. Its services are concerned with all the communicative processes involving, at various levels, both individuals and organisations. Professionals with different, high qualified specialization in verbal and non-verbal, visual and multimedia, digital and organizational communication, work with a scientific approach to meet the needs of the labour world.

The Association delivers Adult Education training on interpersonal and intercultural communication practices for public services and private enterprises, collaborating also in EU projects. Furthermore the Association hosts internship students from Italian and European universities, and organises international workshops (http://bridge-it.communicationproject.eu/Bridge-it-GRU-Course.htm) and In-Service-Training courses (e.g. http://bridge-it.communicationproject.eu/res/pub/programma-Corso-Perugia-aprile-2013-EN.pdf) since 2007 in various European countries.

Key & Key Communications has been coordinating the EU co-funded project BUSINESS_MAIL (2010-1-PL1-LEO04-11306 2; LLP-LDV-PA-10-IT-290; http://businessmail.communicationproject.eu) which has been awarded the Star Project 2012. The Association has also been partner in various other EU projects collaborating for the visual management (designing websites, graphic and publishing material) and for training activities (Virtual Learning Environment, non-verbal and visual communication training):

SPICES  – Social Promotion of Intercultural Communication Expertise and Skills (224945-CP-1-2005-1-IT-GRUNDTVIG-G11; www.trainingspices.net);

e-SPICES – electronic Social Promotion of Intercultural Communication Expertise and Skills (2008-1-IT2-GRU06-00547 1; www.e-spices.net);

BRIDGE-IT  – Be Relevant to Intercultural Diversity Generation in Europe – Integration Team (510101-LLP-1-2010-1-IT-GRUNDTVIG-GMP; http://bridge-it.communicationproject.eu);

ARTERY – Art – Education – Therapy (510260-LLP-1-2010-1-PL-GRUNDTVIG-GMP; http://www.arteryproject.eu);

Crossing Cities (PROG-104049 FEI 2012 – Capacity Building; http://www.crossingcities.it/)

LEARNMERA Oy

Learnmera Oy  is a private adult education provider, catering mainly for companies in the greater Helsinki area providing business language lessons. Courses are in the major Nordic and European languages, as well as beginner’s courses in English, Finnish, Swedish, French, German and Russian. The nature of the work means that they teach many migrants and therefore also help them with their needs outside the classroom (work, housing, cultural issues etc). Learnmera Oy has considerable experience ineducational resource and website creation and app content building as well as online vocational courses (Health care Swedish for foreigners www.vardsvenska.fi) . Their website (www.thelanguagemenu.com) has a member base of over 24,000 teachers worldwide who use their tools and materials. In addition to language training, Learnmera also offers translations for corporations, proofreading, editing, voice overs and subtitling. Phone applications for both Android and iPhone/iPad such as Health Lingo and Picture Lingo have been developed by Learnmera staff, and also creating web portals such as the tool for Info4migrants project and The Language Menu are also a part of Learnmera’s area of expertise. Learnmera has extensive experience in dissemination within social media integrating 10+ social media for EU project dissemination. An ongoing EU TOI project; Info4migrants has a dozen social media accounts associated with their dissemination evidence arranged by the Finnish partner. The Learnmera staff has worked on a dozen EU projects as well as domestic projects within Finland, some also in cooperation with LFI. The most recent domestic ones are Swedish for Somalis, Swedish for foreign children, Finnish for foreigners and children’s courses in different languages. Learnmera Oy also works with the Helsinki Times English programme as the content manager for their lessons in English using their weekly newspaper (http://www.helsinkitimes.fi/2013-10-15-08-21-37/learn-english.html) Social partners1. Helsinki Times – The only weekly newspaper in English in Finland.2 Learning for Integration ry – A non-profit organisation for advancing language education and integration of immigrants in Finland. Special focus on advancing Swedish language learning in Finland as well as language learning for immigrants.

UNIWERSYTET IM. ADAMA MICKIEWICZA

Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan, Poland, is the major academic institution in Poznan and one of the top Polish universities. Its reputation is founded on tradition, the outstanding achievements of the faculty and the attractive curriculum offered to students. The University is a state-owned organization, which currently employs nearly 3,000 teaching staff, including 264 tenured professors, 439 associate professors and 1617 adjunct professors with the Ph.D. title and senior lecturers. The University was founded in 1919 and currently its student population is nearly 49 000 students (over 1000 are international students). AMU comprises 15 faculties. 

The mission of the University is to advance knowledge through high quality research and teaching in partnership with business, the professions, public services and other research and learning providers. The University is a centre of academic excellence, where research and teaching are mutually sustaining, and where the context within which research is conducted and knowledge is sought and applied is international as much as regional and national. The University continuously extends and updates research programs and contents of study curricula, with special emphasis on their interdisciplinary, international nature and cooperation with profit-oriented organizations.

Department of Intercultural Glottopedagogy

The Department of Intercultural Glottopedagogy conducts research in the fields of foreign language teaching, intercultural communication, intercultural and interlanguage pragmatics, teaching languages for special purposes and intercultural teaching. The research area of intercultural pedagogy in the department is broadly defined and includes inter alia language and related competences taught as means fostering an easy adaptation to living in a multilingual and multicultural Europe. This aim includes not only mastering a foreign, or second language for communication in selected situations, but also developing a positive attitude towards other nationalities, relying on the knowledge of the culture, customs and mentality of its members. 

Our multifaceted attitude to research is reflected in our publications dealing, inter alia, with the following aspects:

• teaching and learning of German and English
• language andragogy,
• teaching German and English as a foreign language (GFL and EFL respectively), 
• methodology of teaching GFL and EFL for special purposes, especially the language of tourism and service encounters,
• intercultural communication and related competences, language awareness
• development and integration of language skills, especially listening and speaking skills,
• development of pragmatic competence in a foreign language,
• new media in language teaching (e-Tandem, podcasts, audiobooks),
• GFL and EFL material development and evaluation,
• evaluation and self-evaluation in teaching and learning languages, including the European Language Portfolio in professional education, classroom discourse,
• didactics of intercultural encounters,
• qualitative and quantitative research methods in applied linguistics,
• sociocultural context of teaching English as an international language.

STICHTING VROUW EN WELZIJN / FOUNDATION WOMAN AND WELLBEING

The Woman and Well-Being Foundation has existed for 12 years. The foundation handles all sorts of problems within our society. Thanks to all it has to offer, the foundation is available to address with all sorts of questions in regards to relationships, identity, upbringing, addiction, health, work, education, ethnic issues, emigrant issues, or the represented interests of prisoners and ex-prisoners. Our volunteers and staff are involved with all sorts of cases which are of societal importance for our clients, whether it be volunteer work, schooling, or a re-integration trajectory. Our knowledge encompasses societal issues which also affect ethnic groups. We accomplish this by means of training, courses, and theme days. In addition, we fulfill an advisory role that is offered to professionals concerning the application of acquired knowledge. The Woman and Well-Being Foundation offers training that is beneficial to policymakers, professionals, and volunteers who are employed in the area of care and well-being. We offer new training throughout the year. 

Social Commitment:

Besides administering knowledge, we also organize activities and projects for groups of different ages and backgrounds. We assist in the implementation of projects and activities with the help of our volunteers. These projects and activities consist of meetings, recreation, sports, art, culture, and/or citizenship.

Our projects and activities include the following objectives:

• The promotion of the emancipation and the participation of vulnerable groups within Dutch society
• To fully make families a part of society in all its form
• To enlarge the self-reliance and job market position of vulnerable groups

Our work method is very important for many clients. The Woman and Well-Being Foundation uses a personal and familiar approach and a good relations development process. Over recent years, the foundation has had a lot to do concerning questions and complaints about discrimination of people who are looking for work, parents who complain that their children are being discriminated against at school or at a sport’s club. Stereotyping and prejudices hereby play a crucial role.