Including Roma Communities in European Higher Education: Celebrating Successes and Identifying Challenges 19th May 2016 @SussexCHEER #HEIM16 Introduction to HEIM Professor Louise Morley Director, Centre for Higher Education and Equity Research (CHEER), University of Sussex, UK Ms Tanja Jovanovic PhD Scholar, CHEER Why the HEIM Project? According to available data around 1% of Roma access higher education in CEE, 3% in the UK and 2% in Spain. Higher Education Participation rates for whole population = 22% in Spain; 44% in Sweden; 43% in UK; Globally = 32%. Disaggregated data on the Roma and Education unevenly collected across Europe. Roma in policy and research = in relation to compulsory education. Placement of Roma children in ‘special education’ is common practice in many European countries - along with other forms of hidden segregation. National strategies for widening participation in higher education often exclude specific consideration of Roma communities. Desire/ Aspiration for Higher Education in Roma communities. Lack of research on the Roma in higher education. Diversity of Roma communities across Europe/ Strategic Interventions. What Value is HEIM Adding? Policy Learning/ Knowledge Exchange across diverse constituencies: Academic/ NGOs/ Policymakers Central & Eastern Europe/ Western/Northern Europe Experienced and Early Stage Researchers Co-ordinating/ Creating Knowledge on Roma in Higher Education. What HEIM is Doing? Examining Roma access to higher education in Spain, Sweden and the UK. Evaluating European and National Policy Frameworks/ Solutions that regulate the access of Roma young people to education. Training professionals working with Roma communities in research methodologies for equity, diversity and social inclusion. Interviewing Roma academics and doctoral students about their experiences of higher education. Developing a Social Media Network to support Roma researchers and students in higher education. Providing a Training Module on Internationalisation. Publishing, Disseminating, Networking and Promoting Impact from the findings. Capacity-building. Identifying/ Sharing Good Practices in Europe. University of Sussex, UK University of Seville, Spain Umeå University, Sweden Higher Education Internationalisation and Mobility - Inclusions, Equalities and Innovations (HEIM) Roma Education Fund, Budapest Hungary Good Practices Policy EU Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies (to 2020) (education, employment, healthcare and housing). Roma Decade of Inclusion (2005-2015). Affirmative Action policies support Roma students to access higher education (access, bursaries, mentoring) Central European University’s Access Programmes Roma Education Fund’s Scholarships Roma International Scholarship Scheme (RISP) Transparent and accessible information/ support for higher education opportunities Romaversitas Promotes and encourages Roma access to higher education/ strengthens social relationships between Roma and non-Roma students in order to remove prejudices and stereotypes within society. Spain Designing Plans for Roma Inclusion Plan for Roma Development (1989) Participation in the Decade Strategies and measures for national, regional and local administrations. Consultation State Council of the Roma involvement in design, implementation and evaluation of inclusion programmes. Sweden Curriculum National Agency for Education commissioned Higher Education Courses for 'Roma mediators’/ teachers of Romani Chib in primary and secondary schools. Materials Government committed to funding the production of school material in varieties of Romani Chib. UK The Equality Act (2010) Romany Gypsies and Irish Travellers recognised ethnic groups with legal protections from discrimination. NGOs/ Advocacy Groups e.g. Friends, Families and Travellers Gypsy Council UK Roma Support Group Advisory Council for the Education of Romany and Other Travellers Policy Activity Cross Ministerial Working Group on Gypsy and Traveller Inequalities (CMWG). The Future? Disaggregated Statistics Analysis Support Programmes Inclusion of Roma communities in Higher Education Policies and Practices. Including Roma Communities in European Higher Education: Celebrating Successes and Identifying Challenges 19th May 2016 @SussexCHEER #HEIM16 Work Package 4: Supporting Roma Students in Higher Education in Spain, Sweden and the UK Participants Spain - M. Teresa Padilla-Carmona & Alejandro Soria-Vilchez Sweden - Nafsika Alexiadou & Anders Norberg UK - Tamsin Hinton-Smith & Emily Danvers Activities and Focus Secondment in Budapest: Spring/Autumn 2015 Conference presentations Additional work on national cases (continued beyond the secondment period) Focus National education and HE situation for Roma children and young people Spain, Sweden, UK NGOs work on Roma education access – focus & sources: Roma Education Fund International focus and the European Union National Cases To discuss relevant policy frameworks for the inclusion of minority groups in education / HE To identify the nature of education issues facing Roma pupils/students in each country particular problems that impede successful education participation for Roma youth initiatives that can serve as the basis for policy learning and knowledge transfer To present and disseminate positive and successful trajectories of Roma students. NGOs & Roma Education To examine the role of NGOs that focus on Roma education To learn about Roma education NGO operations, initiatives, research and policy actions To understand the interactions between NGOs, national and EU policy structrures To identify areas of NGO work offer possibilities for policy learning in our national contexts. The EU & Europeanisation of Roma Education Policy The policy framework within the EU that applies to Roma education opportunities, and the mechanisms the EU employs to effect change Identifying the major barriers associated with lack of progress in closing the gap between Roma and non-Roma Policy learning and the capacity to effect change in Roma education and inclusion. Activities & Research – Budapest, 2015 Documentary reviews (National documentation, European Union and REF documents) Interviews with policy officers, NGO actors, University participants (in, REF, ERRC, CEU, Roma Decade Secretariat) & with students (CEU) Reviews of academic literature on 3 areas: National education and HE policies Equality & Inclusion definitions Roma-specific research policy issues Outcomes (a) Reports (b) Conference & Seminar Presenations (c) Publications Key Findings (i) Lack of statistical data on Roma children /young people identified as a major problem that impedes policy action All participating countries have extensive legal and policy frameworks against discrimination. In all countries there are problems of putting these into practice Problems of definitions of ’equality’, ’inclusion’, ’integration’ in education and HE (national, and EU) Problems of representation of Roma political voices. Key Findings (ii) Residential segregation and hence socio-economic and ethnicity-based segregation lead to segregated schools. Free parental school choice and marketisation /privatization practices: exacerbate problems for Roma and other vulnerable group.s Affirmative action policies for Roma access to HE: Spain, Sweden, the UK policy learning opportunities from countries in Central and Eastern Europe. Country Specific Issues: Spain Second 1.9%) largest Roma population in Europe (between 1.6% and Pervasive, negative, extended prejudices against Roma While in early (87%) and elementary Education (96.7%), the percentage of Roma is similar to non-Roma, early dropout (at compulsory secondary education) is extremely high (64% compared to 13% of non-Roma) Recent research estimates that 2.2% of young Roma (22% in the general population) graduate from university. Country Specific Issues: Spain International recognition of the so-called Spanish Model for Roma inclusion The National Roma Integration Strategy for 2012-2020 (Ministry of Health, Social Services and Equality, 2011) does not address HE. ‘Austerity’ policies leading to reduced governmental investment in education since 2010 (Laparra, Fernández, Hernández, Salinas & Cedrón, 2013). Country Specific Key Findings: Spain Case study of succesfull trajectories of Roma students and graduates show: The importance of being raised in a non-segregated context/family. The importance of having precedents in the family (follow the line). Risk of ’apayamiento’ or agenciality in their identity construction? Mainstreaming schooling as a key factor Ethnic invisibility as a coping mechanism Country Specific Issues: Sweden A small but very diverse Roma population: High absenteeism and alienation in school / high drop outs from compulsory and non-compulsory education (no official statistics) 23% of the whole student population left compulsory school without complete grades in 2015 – estimates for Roma: poor. 43% of the total Swedish population graduating from upper secondary school start tertiary education & 60% within 10 years (2015) National Strategy for Roma Inclusion: 2012-2032 - The Swedish Strategy submitted in response to EU Framework on Roma Inclusion, as the Swedish National Roma Integration Strategy (NRIS) Interview with: Erik Ullenhag, Minister for Integration (2010-14) & Roma civil society organisations/representatives Case study of one Pilot Municipality Country Specific Key Findings: Sweden Roma issues explicitly addressed but mainstreamed into the work of municipalities Anti-discrimination (universal human rights) v group differentiated minority rights? Higher Education not particularly addressed in the Strategy Educating mediators: Commissioned HE courses by the National Agency in Education – (Södertörn University) Educating teachers in Romani Chib as a first language / funding of the production of school material in varieties of Romani Chib Diversity of Romani dialects - difficulties or implementation Problems around Roma civil society representation & consultation Country Specific Findings: UK ‘Gypsy’ recognised as offensive terminology by many, the categories ‘Gypsies and Travellers’ and ‘Irish Travellers’ are used in the UK census and national policy. Gypsies, Travellers and Roma in the UK are a highly deprived group experiencing multiple disadvantage and discrimination, particularly relating to education, health and employment. Marginalisation and discrimination lead to poor achievement. Pupils experience ‘racist, prejudiced and discriminatory attitudes both in their local communities and in school’ (Deuchar and Bhopal, 2012:747). 3-4% of UK Gypsy, Roma and Travellers access HE compared to 43% of the population as a whole. Lack of policy/ interventions to support disadvantaged groups from outside the UK in higher education e.g. refugee and migrant populations as well as Gypsies, Travellers and Roma. Country Specific Key Findings: UK Wider educational and social disadvantage, lack of adequate data, and lack of political will are key barriers to HE participation. Good quality, de-segregated schooling; information about HE opportunities, financial support and scholarships; and Roma role models (including teachers) are central to supporting educational progression including HE. The UK urgently needs national direction and impetus to support retention and success of Roma, Travellers and Gypsies in higher education. Issues for Discussion Across Cases Are Roma young peoples’ rights in education better dealt with: through inclusion in common schools/HE, or, through more direct actions to protect culture, language customs? Given the diversity of the groups, ’whose’ culture and which customs? (Rövid, 2011) How can representation of Roma be improved in education policies and practices? Issues for Discussion Across Cases (cont) Does research and intervention need a focus on the ’bright side’? Disseminate the positive successful models or persist treating Roma as a (self)segregating group? Would this impact on the non-Roma community view of Roma? Changing stereotypes against Roma is part of the things- to- do list? Including Roma Communities in European Higher Education: Celebrating Successes and Identifying Challenges 19th May 2016 @SussexCHEER #HEIM16 Work Package 5: Researching Marginalised Minorities in Higher Education Institutions: Policies and Practice September-December 2015 Space for names, logos, Twitter Objectives To develop Roma Education Fund (REF) expertise on barriers and enablers for marginalised minorities in European higher education, through visiting and exchanging knowledge with the Universities of Seville (Spain), Umeå (Sweden) and Sussex (UK) To apply REF’s specialist knowledge to specific country contexts. Activities (Research): Conducting empirical research of institutional policy, practices and experience of the inclusion of marginalised minorities in HE participation through interviews and documentary analysis. Identification of future initiatives to support widening participation of Roma students in European higher education. Deliverables: 3 country-specific (Sweden, Spain, UK) research-informed briefing papers led by REF on issues for Roma people in accessing HE opportunities in European countries http://www.sussex.ac.uk/education/cheer/rese archprojects/rise/outputs Reports used interviews and documentary analysis to research and review the differing national and cultural landscapes experienced by Roma living in the 3 distinct European country contexts, including: Historical developments Legal frameworks Social conditions and opportunities Economic circumstances Secondments 3 teams from REF (each one Established Researcher and 1 Early Stage Researcher) seconded to 3 academic partners for 1 month each. Seville: Dr Stela Garaz, REF Scholarship Programme and Studies Officer (ER), and Ilona Notar (ESR) Sussex: Dr Stela Garaz (ER), and Gabriela Petre (ESR) Umea: Merziha Idrizi, REF Scholarship Programme and Studies Officer (ER), and Ljubica Tomic (ESR) Sweden: Learning from the Secondment ‘During our month stay in Umeå University we reviewed policy documents around Higher Education access in Sweden, academic analyses, as well as institutional policies and practices that regulate entry and academic success in Universities. We also had the opportunity to conduct interviews with relevant people who work on issues around education policies, youth transitions research, and, policies for minorities, particularly about the Roma minority in Sweden.’ Ljubica Tomic, ESR Sweden: Summary of Key Findings Enablers Free education (for Swedish citizens only) A comprehensive upper secondary education available to all who have completed compulsory school, and providing a strong foundation for vocational activities, further study, personal development and active social participation A very good, established Pre-Higher Education system supports HE participation Availability of Student Loans The National Roma Integration Strategy of Sweden Government commitment to widening participation in HE of disadvantaged groups Sweden: Summary of Key Findings Challenges: Opportunities well-established in theory (including the Pre-HE system) do not function as effectively in practice Interviews and documentary analysis convey discrimination and fear from students of utilising their right in compulsory education to assistance from a teacher in their mother-tongue language Low self-esteem, as a result of being perceived as the ‘other’, and discrimination, majority not being aware of culture of the Roma minority Roma not being well informed on available opportunities Enrollment in lower quality compulsory secondary schools and upper secondary education – particularly among the students whose parents educational background is poor. ESR Experiences from Ljubica Surprise at the level of discrimination experienced by Roma in the 21st century in as economically a developed country as Sweden The need for the Swedish Government to work to ensure opportunities for Roma in Sweden in line with the contemporary experience of others there – to address the discrimination Roma feel they experience in their daily lives Sweden Team Recommendations To explore opportunities for establishing: mentorship-based support, quotas in universities, scholarships, softening of criteria for student loan repayment. Community outreach utilising and scalingup already-established ‘bridge builder’ pilot project outcomes, establishing links between the Roma and the Swedish majority. Spain: Learning from the Secondment ‘The one month I have spent in Spain was enough to understand the possibilities Roma have to access higher education. I consider it important to present at the beginning of my paper who are the target group of our research… we need to keep in mind that the Roma are an ethnic group with specific traditions, set of values, language and mentality.’ (Ilona Notar, ESR) Spain: Summary of Key Findings Enablers Provision of alternative access routes to HE e.g. work experience and special exams for those without a secondary education could be beneficially replicated in Eastern European countries. Availability of part-time and distance learning, and no restrictions on employment while studying, also support participation by socioeconomically disadvantaged groups. Spain: Summary of Key Findings Challenges Spanish HE has no affirmative action practices targeting Roma or any other ethnic group. A Quota system is in place only for mature students and those with disabilities Despite rising HE participation overall, participation remains low for disadvantaged groups, including those from migrant, workingclass, and low parental education backgrounds Roma are the most underrepresented group in HE (2% of Roma compared to 32% of the total population) The cost of university in the context of economic recession is a major participation barrier in Spain Poverty, unemployment, low pay, low secondary education, and lack of information all contribute to low Roma HE participation. ESR Experiences from Ilona ‘I tried to find out more about the Flamenco culture, not as a tourist, but using the "snow ball method" to get to those authentic places which are basically family-supported traditional Roma music and dancing places. This visit was extremely useful for me to understand the role of the family in the life of Roma people, the importance of music and its very deep roots. It also highlighted that apparently contradictory fact, that in spite of all the prejudices existing in Spain, the Flamenco, the traditional dance of the Roma ethnic group, has become an integral part of Spanish history and present. During the four weeks of research work every weekend I visited those towns where I knew that Roma ghettoes and segregated places can be found. Thus I gained empirical knowledge in Malaga and Cadiz, where I spent one or two days in the street with Roma musicians and later I joined them to their homes where I had the chance to experience the fact that the same city incorporated two different worlds in two streets located near each other. In one street comfort, cleanliness and wealth could be found, while in the other crumbling walls and poverty with all the discomfort possible. I am going to talk about these experiences later showing pictures as well. In Cordoba I met women telling fortune and selling things, which was very useful because I had the opportunity to ask them about their chances of further studying and their children’s possibilities at school. English language was spoken well only by those who worked in the milieu of the university, which is why I met difficulties in communicating with "average" Roma people. I needed all my knowledge as a researcher.’ (Ilona Notar) Spain Team Recommendations ‘Marginalized groups including Roma in Spain face institutional barriers in accessing higher education. If the system does not decrease the costs of university studies for the entire population, or does not provide financial assistance to all socioeconomically disadvantaged enrolled students, or does not institute a quota system specific for Roma that would also be coupled with an effective outreach campaign and financial support during the studies, Roma will continue being underrepresented in higher education in future as well.’ Learning of lessons form intervention programmes in Eastern and Central Europe (Central European University Roma Access Program and Roma Language Program; Romaversitas; Jezsuita Szakkollégium; Roma Education Fund Roma Scholarship Program These programmes don’t exist in Spain, but would be beneficial through tutorstudent and student-student relationships, professional development and community power. UK: Summary of Key Findings Enablers A history of Government Widening Participation initiatives Existence of alternative pathways into higher education for entrants without traditional qualifications Availability of loans to support university participation. UK: Summary of Key Findings Challenges Access to HE has increased, but with it the importance of what kind of degree you get, and where you get it from, has increased as well, which raises new barriers for social mobility beyond access to higher education. Significance of published rankings of UK universities every year, all of them including graduate employability. Graduates from the 20 leading “Russell Group” universities are most likely to be favored by employers. ESR Experiences from Gabriela Insights from interviews with Roma students in the UK: ‘Traditions in my local community are not different from those in the other parts of the world: the woman is expected to take care of children, to be a good housewife and to support her husband’s development. Those women who study, or who try to build a career receive attitudes starting from complete admiration (more coming by other youngsters), to the opposite: full isolation from the community and acceptance as ‘gadzi’ (non-Roma).’ UK Team Recommendations Affirmative measures (special places for members of marginalized minorities at UK Universities) Preparation Programmes to support graduate progression to Masters level study Policies in schools on prevention of bullying Increase the number of Roma cultural and history activities in schools. Drawing Together Key Messages Individualised insights from each secondment team Also underpinning/ transnational issues Need for knowledge exchange of good practice Interrelations of opportunities and initiatives at educational stages Wider nexus of educational opportunities amongst poverty, jobs, housing, and marginalisation/exclusion from community and society. Including Roma Communities in European Higher Education: Celebrating Successes and Identifying Challenges 19th May 2016 @SussexCHEER #HEIM16 Research Methodologies Training for Equality and Diversity Collaboration between Roma Education Fund and University of Sussex Drawing together: Experienced researchers Early stage researchers Research and innovation staff. Roma Education Fund Research methodologies for equity, diversity and social inclusion University of Sussex Research Methodologies Training for Equality and Diversity Objectives To share expertise in research methodologies between Sussex and the Roma Education Fund. To build capacity within the Roma Education Fund to undertake innovative studies in their communities. To develop online resources for researching Equality and Diversity that can be used by the Roma and wider research communities. The Partners: Roma Education Fund International foundation based in Budapest Implements policies and projects aimed at facilitating the access to quality education for ethnic Roma in 16 countries of Central, Eastern, and SouthEastern Europe Research and policy development unit, but it is not a research organization Collaboration builds capacity and competency to engage with and translate research into interventions and policies. The Partners: Roma Education Fund Areas/activities we are looking to strengthen: Roma Education Fund baseline studies to analyze the context in a given country or locality at the very beginning of a project Project proposals through greater understanding and referencing of research Improve project reports, which usually require policy analysis and data analysis using statistical techniques Immediate and longer-term evaluations of Roma Education Fund Initiatives All require familiarity with social research methodology and research techniques. The Partners: University of Sussex University of Sussex ranked in Top 20 in all three major UK higher education league tables and 65th in Europe (THE World Rankings, 2016). Strength in social sciences and the training of social science researchers; hosting one of the UK’s Economic and Social Research Council Doctoral Training Centres. Training Programme in Research Methodologies Key dates: The Training Programme for colleagues from the Roma Education Fund ran from 22nd June 2015 to 17th July 2015, with a follow-up event on the 1st to 4th November 2015. Secondments: 10 Early Stage Researchers (ESRs) from the Roma Education Fund attending Sussex for intensive training for research methodologies Secondees: Mihaela Velicu; Gabriela Petre; Dănuț Dumitru; Máté Dezső; Szilvia Pallaghy; Radoslav Kuzmanov; Marsela Taho; Ljubica Tomic; Dragana Radoman; Albena Velcheva Stage: Complete Welcome to Sussex! Training Programme in Research Methodologies Secondees Eastern European: Albania (1), Bulgaria (2), Hungary (2), Macedonia (1), Montenegro (1), Romania (3) Ethnicity: 70% Roma Gender: 70% Female and 30% Male Role: 4 Early-stage researchers and 6 Research and Innovation Staff Training Programme in Research Methodologies Seminar 1: Addressing female students' fear of sexual assault at a South African university residence Seminar 2: Social Inclusion in Education and Social Care (day course) Seminar 3: The Ethics of Researching Roma Seminar 4: Diversity at home: Irish women travellers and residents in the South of England. Travelling women's voices as a bridge between communities Seminar 5: Inclusive education and ethnic identity: Educational policies for Roma in Central and Eastern Europe. Seminar 6: Work in progress: Educational Systems and Romani Identity: A comparative study of legal strategies for exclusion and inclusion educational systems in Macedonia. Generational changes of the Roma graduates, in the impact of social resilience. Migration Dynamics and New Trends in European (In)Security. Seminar 7: Employability, opportunity and the prospects for social mobility. Training Programme in Research Methodologies Training Programme in Research Methodologies Workshop 1: Quantitative Research Literacy Workshop 2: Practical Tips to Improve your Academic Writing Workshop 3: Qualitative Research Workshop 4: Getting the Better of Technology Training Programme in Research Methodologies Networking event: Celebrations and Challenges: The Roma Community in the UK Speakers: Dr Annabel Tremlett - Annabel's research interests include investigating the differences between public and self representations of minority or marginalised groups, with a focus on ethnicity/'race'. She is particularly interested in how to challenge misleading images through ethnographic research and photo elicitation, and has worked extensively with Roma people in Hungary. Dr Aidan McGarry - Aidan's research focuses on the political participation and representation of Roma across Europe. He is the author of 'Who Speaks for Roma?' (Continuum 2010) and is currently writing a book entitled 'Romaphobia' (Zed 2016) which looks at the causes of anti-Roma prejudice. Lucie Fremlova - Lucie's research is on the lived experiences of Romani LGBTIQ people. She has worked with/for Romani communities in mainland Europe and the UK for the past 17 years, particularly in the fields of desegregated/inclusive education and the movement of Roma to the UK. Training Programme in Research Methodologies Roma Social Inclusion and Higher Education: Lessons Learned and Future Priorities 19th May 2016 Andrzej Mirga, Chair, Roma Education Fund Lunch break: We will return shortly 19th May 2016 @SussexCHEER #HEIM16 Roma Epistemology and Contribution to their own Representations 19th May 2016 Ciprian Necula, State Secretary, Ministry of European Funds Action and Impact Groups 19th May 2016 @SussexCHEER #HEIM16 Action and Impact Groups 1. Introductions (10 minutes) 2. What key message will you take away with you in relation to the findings /presentations today? (10 minutes) 3. Which ideas/ interventions can be transferred to your organisation/location? (10 minutes) 4. Which stakeholders from your network should be informed about the findings? What action would you like them to take? (10 minutes) 5. What will you do differently as a result of this seminar? (10 minutes) 6. Were there any issues that were not raised that you would like the research team to consider? Any advice to the research team? (10 minutes) Closing Discussion: Moving Forward 19th May 2016 Andrzej Mirga and Tanja Jovanovic Closing Discussion: Moving Forward Summary of key messages What are the main actions to take forward? Who will take them forward? When? Where? THANK YOU! 19th May 2016 @SussexCHEER #HEIM16