The IP-DISCO
Intensive Program in Diversity Inclusion for Social Cohesion
IP-DISCO brings 25 diverse students in a ten day social learning laboratory where
issues of race, culture, religion, sexuality and disability will be lived and studied with
reference to anti-discriminatory principles incorporated in European Law.
Target participants are social work students and related disciplines with personal
experience and commitment to resolving contentious questions of inclusion or exclusion.
They are motivated not only by their biographical identities, but also by their political
advocacy. Activities include cutting edge contributions from experts and scholars from
related disciples; as well as interactive visits to communities and agencies dealing with
inclusive citizenship, diversity issues and social cohesion.
Given elements that diverse participants bring, didactical approaches ensure that
participants optimize working ,studying and living together as opportunity for reflection on
how contentious individual differences strengthen or threaten social cohesion.
We contribute to efforts in European social work education by equipping practitioners
with competencies in working with conflictive issues resulting from exclusionary
practices that have marginalized groups and communities including religious or ethnic
minorities and gays or lesbians. Aside from sharpening a didactical method in social
work training, a compiled inter-country analysis and reflection on the theme inclusive
citizenship in Europe will be produced as curricular resource.
Background
Between 2005 and 2006, the Protestant University of Applied Sciences in Reutlingen
Ludwigsburg held two consultations called University Expertise Exchange with 15
participating universities in Europe. These consultations were supported by the PROFIS
Program of the DAAD. A working group tasked with themes related to Social
Inclusion and Social Cohesion was formed. Exchanges among participants continued
over the past two years, with many of the ideas adopted now in this Intensive Project
on Diversity Inclusion for Social Cohesion (IP-DISCO). The IP-DISCO uses resources
already available in different universities and students. The didactic approach will
require each university to recruit student participants who represent and experience
diversity issues in the areas of Colour or Ethnicity, Minority Culture, Sexual Orientation
(Gay/Lesbian/Transexual); Religion and Ability/Disability. Students and
Professors/Trainers will live, work and study together and experience the limits and
challenges of tolerance or respect; exclusion or exclusion; dialogue or division. All
these within the scope of the academic and theoretical, as well
as in the day to day dealing with actual differences within the duration of the IP-DISCO.
Aims and Objectives:
The aims of the IP-DISCO are:
1. To prepare 25 diverse students on the Bachelors Degree level from five European
countries, who are interested in assuming professional roles as advocates for social
inclusion and cohesion in their universities, communities and eventually in their places of
employment.
2. To create a diversity forum where academics from five collaborating universities could
discuss cutting edge issues, theories and practices in social inclusion and cohesion in
the light of existing European anti-discriminatory policies and laws.
3.
4.
To implement and develop didactical methods that combine theory and analysis while
actually challenging existing community practices in diversity, inclusion and social
cohesion.
To use the body of knowledge drawn from personal experiences of participants and
expertise of various resource persons and academics related to Diversity, Inclusion and
Social Cohesion across different countries represented in this project.
The sustained objective of the IP-DISCO is to lend visibility to contentious issues of diversity
that still push many groups in Europe to marginalized and minoritized political status. The IPDISCO includes the objective of comparing existing programs in different European countries
on how respect for diversity is included in social services intended for social cohesion.
Target Group:
1. As part of its diversity and inclusive character, IP-DISCO also targets students with
disabilities who often have difficulties with an extended stay abroad. Furthermore, we
intend to provide a didactical approach which provides a safe and intensive interaction
among students of inter-racial, inter-religious, intercultural and differentiated sexual
orientation, which is often not possible in regular university classes.
2. The multidiscipline approach is necessary in dealing with the problematic of inclusive
citizenship, thus requiring the contributions of political science, law, history, theology,
psychology and intercultural studies to the discipline of social work. The inter-country
and intercultural mix achieved within a ten day period is appropriate for a didactical
approach that also relies on characteristics embodied by participants who will contribute
their biographical narratives in issues of race, sexuality, religion, culture, ability/disability in
re-thinking the concept of inclusive citizenship in Europe.
Why attend the IP-DISCO
Inclusive European citizenship is an overarching theme that touches on many issues of
conflict and reconciliation among many communities and sectors in Europe today. Non
Government Organizations and State Institutions collaborate with Higher Educational
Institutions in the training of professionals with competencies to bring about a
cohesive yet diverse community of Europeans.
Social Work Education in Europe concerns itself with issues of diversity, which on
one hand is regarded as an overarching quality in social cohesion, and on the other as
a basis for conflictive social division. Differences brought about by race, religion, sexual
orientation , culture ability or disability have been causes for painful and conflictive
divisions where groups, who are set apart by minority characteristics, are
systematically excluded from dominant mainstream social processes. Educators in the
academic disciplines of social work, social pedagogy, theology and child education, are
of agreement that standards of social cohesion in Europe do not result from formal
legal mandate alone; but more importantly, in the ability of socially excluded groups
to move from the margins to the center of socio-political processes because their
right to belong as citizens within a society are included and upheld. More and more,
universities specializing in the training of professionals in the fields of social work,
education and other fields of social psychology and political science are in agreement
over the need for didactical approaches that bring about new competences for young
professionals who are faced with the ever growing challenge posed by an expanding
Europe where contentious diversities can serve as social capital for community
cohesion.
Tie-Up with the Teaching Program, Innovation and European Dimension
of the Project
The IP-DISCO will be offered as a curricular undertaking within the academic program
leading to degrees in Social Work, Social Deaconry, Theology, and Education. Partners in
this project will formally agree that students participating in this IP will earn academic
units recognized under the European Credit Transfer System. Under the EFH-Reutlingen
Ludwigsburg, this IP will be an integrated component of academic modules described in
the curriculum as Project Study and Field Placement of students. It will also have
equivalent in the Module addressing themes on Interculturality, Inclusion, Interreligiousity
and Internationality.
IP-DISCO is innovative in the methods it employs:
 Resource Focused - in optimizing the lived experiences of diversity students who
come from five different countries in Europe as a basis for theory analysis and
critique on current programmatic practices.
 Strength Orientation – IP-DISCO turns around the prevalent idea that minority
groups are social liabilities. It will seek to identify characteristics of
marginalized sub-cultures in order to surface strengths, potentials and capacities
in their value systems. In so doing, what is considered as social liabilities can
be turned into Social Capital. It is in the identification and maximization of social
capital that leads to social cohesion.
 Multidisciplinary, Intercultural, Interreligious Approach - the project will uphold
inclusivity as a guiding principle. Participants on both the student and
professorial levels will bring their diverse identitities and experiences and live
this out not only in theory but in practice within the duration of this IPDISCO.
Implementation Period
The implementation of the IP DISCO will be May 28 - June 8, 2009. It will have the
length of 12 days including arrival and departure days. The activities will be held in
three locations in the state of Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
May 28 - 31, 2009 - Stuttgart
June 1 - 5, 2009 – Ludwigsburg
June 6-8 – Bad Boll
DAILY PLAN (Tentative)
Day
The programme of lectures and other activities
1
Arrival –Settling Down
2
Group Processing:
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Biographical Narratives
Defining and Negotiating the Terms of our Co-existence (for the
Next Two Weeks)
Unpacking our Backpacks: “What Have we Brought with our
Persons”
3
Theme: Europe
Expert Input: The European Community – Historical Transition,
Contemporary Politics and Impact on the Welfare State


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4
Dealing with Difference - What Unites Us, What Divides Us
Defining Inclusion, Diversity and Social Cohesion
Supervised Group Work
Theme: Race as Inclusionary or Exclusionary Category
Expert Input: Race and Racism
 Community Interaction/Social Work in “Brennpunkt Ludwigsburg”
 Reflection Session: “No, I am not a Racist!”
5
Theme: Sexuality
Expert Input: Dissecting Heteronormality
Sexual Orientation:
The Politicals of being Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or
Transsexual in Europe.

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6
Theme:
Culture Difference
Expert Input:
Culture Theories
Migration and Hybrid Identities in Europe
Mutlicultural Citizenship in Europe


7
Visit to Lesbian/Gay Projects and Implications to Social Work
Practice
Country Comparisons on Sexual Minority Rights
Reflection Session: “I have nothing against homosexuals
because/but ….”
Group Exercises: Dealing with Difficult Differences
Trends in “Interculturalism,” more than just celebrating
European Diversity
Theme:
Expert Input:
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Religion
World Religions
Global Conflict and the Rise of Religious
Fundamentalism
Group Work and Panel Discussions
Interfaith and Interreligious Dialogue
Debating Violence and Peace in Religious Teachings
What Unites Us and What Divides Us
8
Theme:
Ability and Disability
Expert Input:
Europe and the Integration of the Differently Abled
Best Practice Models
Social Work Counselling Skills
Bio-Ethics
Field Visits
Also Possible Field Visit to Advocacy Groups
9
Theme:
Inclusive Citizenship in Europe
Diversity as Social Capital
Workshop:
How does European Law Uphold and Protect the
Rights of Groups Vulnerable to Discrimination?
“No one can be discriminated on the basis of
gender, race, ethnic origin, religion or world view,
disability, age, sexual orientation.”
(In the IP-DISCO, we focus on 4 categories namely
race, religion, ability, culture and sexual orientation. In
depth study of other categories will be programmed in
the succeeding years.)
10
Dialogue with Local Advocacy Groups
Representatives of NGO’s advocating non-discriminatory policies will
be invited to a panel discussion with students.
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11
12
Social Work Advocacy in Anti – Discrimination Policies
Diversity Inlcusion
The Prerequisites of Social Cohesion
Supervised Groupwork
Tutorials
Completion of Assignments
Presentation of Group Outputs
Synthesis of all Sessions
Evaluation
Good byes
Setting the Terms for Follow Up and Submission of Course
Requirements
List of Partners in the IP-DISCO Project
Partner One - Jabok Institute/Charles University in Prague
Title
Mgr. Ing.
First name
Family name
Fischer
Department
Theology and Philosophy at Jabok
Position
Head of Department
Work address
Jabok Institute Salmovska 12
Postcode
120 00
Country
Czech Republic
Telephone 1
00420 224 920 425
Telephone 2
00420 224 919 498
Mobile
00420 732 788 190
Fax
00420 296 216 505
E-mail
fischer@jabok.cz
Website
www.jabok.cuni.cz
Expert in:
Philosophy for the Helping Profession, Philosophy of Religion and Ethics for Social Work
Ondrej
City
Prague
Partner Two - Newman College of Higher Education, UK
Title
Mr.
First name
Graham
Family name
Brotherton
Department
Community and Professional Development
Position
Senior Lecturer/Program Leader
Work address
Genners Lane , Bartely green
Postcode
B323NT
Country
United Kingdom
Telephone 1
+44 121 4761181 x2344
City
Birmingham
Telephone 2
Fax
Mobile
E-mail
G.Brotherton@newman.ac.uk
Website
www.newman.ac.uk
Expert in:
Education, Welfare Policy, Sociology and Politics.
+44 121 476 1196
.
Partner Three – Jan Dluglosz University in Czeschtochowa
Title
Dr.
First name
Family name
Kowalczyk-Gnyp
Department
Division of Social Work
Position
Professor
Work address
Waszyngton Street 4/8
Postcode
42-200
Country
Poland
Telephone 1
+48 34 378 42 97
Telephone 2
Mobile
+48 507 041 337
Fax
E-mail
m.kowalczyk@ajd.czest.pl
Website
www.wp.ajd.czest.pl
Expert in:
Social communication, social pedagogy, social work and education. Also in intercultural
communications and diversity questions.
City
Monika
Czestochowa
+ 48 34 364 26 47
Also involved:
Beata Pawlica , Doctor of Sociology: cultural anthropology, social communication and
sociology of small groups.
Dr Edyta Widawska, PhD Sociology: Human rights education and conflict
transformation.
Partner Four – Diaconia University of Applied Sciences
Title
Ms
First name
Family name
Hälikkä
Department
Administration Office
Position
Head of International Relations
Work address
Sturenkatu 2
Postcode
Fi-00510
Country
FI
Telephone 1
+358 40 8696019
City
Mobile
Riikka
Helsinki
Telephone 2
Fax
E-mail
riikka.halikka@diak.fi
Website
www.diak.fi
Expert in:
Head of the International Office, involved in all international Projects.