The conference is supported by the European project “WEMIN: Migrant Women Empowerment and Integration”. It is addressed to scholars, experts and practitioners, representatives of authorities, institutions, organizations and associations, active citizens, and more generally anyone involved in the study, research and practice in the fields of migration, migration policy, empowerment and social integration of refugees, as well as related topics.

The main objective of the international conference, in addition to presenting the results of the WEMIN project in detail, is to explore the gendered dimensions of the migration phenomenon in the context of today’s Europe. Recognizing gender as an integral part of the experience, management, and understanding of migration and integration processes, the conference aims to highlight not only the multiple challenges but also the significant opportunities European societies face.

The conference will include lectures, presentations and workshops in topics such as:

• Towards gendered sensitive migration and integration policies
• Migrant and Refugee Women: challenges and good practices for integration
• Migrants’ integration at local level: partnerships, strategies and practices
• Adult migrants’ education: current challenges from a gender sensitive perspective
• Working Life, Social Life and Integration from a gender sensitive perspective
• Gendered norms and roles in migratory contexts
• Gender-based violence and migration
• Representations and constructions of migrant masculinities and femininities.
• Art and gendered experiences of migration and integration

Τhis international conference will be the final, closure event of the WEMIN project aiming at presenting its outcomes to additional stakeholders-organizations and policy-makers, by combining presentations and thematic workshops with the parallel engagement of members of its target groups.

The official conference language is English. There is no registration fee for attending the conference. Certificates of participation will be provided. Interested parties are kindly requested to fill in the registration form “here”.

The WEMIN project developed a pioneering model for the integration of migrant and refugee women of all ages in the hosting communities. It combined, among others, training, empowerment and mentoring sessions and learning through art. An electronic peer learning platform has been developed, as a place where professionals in the field of migration as well as migrant and refugee women can share knowledge, tools and experiences with each other; you can access the platform on the address https://culturalmediators.eu/wemin-platform/register/.

The project is funded by the European Union’s Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (776211-ΑΜIF-2016-AG-INTE) and includes a transnational partnership in 8 EU Member States (Greece, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Germany and Sweden). In Greece, it is implemented in Athens by the DAISSy Research Group of Hellenic Open University (Coordinator) and Olympic Training & Consulting Ltd (partner).

You can be informed about project WEMIN by visiting www.wemin-project.eu or by following #WEMIN. For further info about the conference, please visit its website www.wemin-project.eu/conference and/or send email to info@daissy.eap.gr. To find out more regarding the activities of the DAISSy group of HOU please visit https://daissy.eu/.

The DAISSy Research Group of the Hellenic Open University (HOU) agrees that libraries are very useful to everyone! That’s why it is working to equip library staff with the #digitalskills they need for the future!

Find all the “Libraries and Skills” factsheets on Public Libraries 2030 website.

This is included in “BIBLIO: Boosting digital skills and competences of libraries in Europe” European project under implementation by HOU-DAISSy Reasearch Group (project partner in Greece), which is funded by ERASMUS+ (Key Action 2) programme of the European Union.

For more information about the BIBLIO project and HOU-DAISSy, please check:

Facebook: @DAISSyResearchGroup, @DigitalBiblio
Website  : https://daissy.eu/
Email      : info@daissy.eap.gr

On the 31^st of December 2019, the two-year AMIF project WEMIN: Migrant Women Empowerment and Integration came to its completion. Funded by the European Union’s Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF-2016-AG-INTE / grant agreement no.776211), it was implemented successfully by partners coming from eight EU Member States (Greece, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Germany and Sweden). It was coordinated by the DAISSy Research Group of Hellenic Open University (HOU), while the WEMIN activities in Greece were implemented in Athens in collaboration with project partner Olympic Training & Consulting Ltd.

The WEMIN project developed a pioneering model for the integration of migrant and refugee women (MRW) of all ages in the hosting communities of the partner countries. It combined, among others, training, empowerment and mentoring sessions, learning through art, production of guides (on best practices of migrants’ integration and on related policy-making), development of digital educational material (videos) and tools (electronic peer learning platform included), etc. More precisely, the following exploitable results were achieved by the WEMIN project:

Detailed description of 10 good practices in the field of social integration of migrant and refugee women (Guide)

The Guide of good practices on integration of migrants is regarded as a very useful tool for the organizations (NGOs included) dealing with such topics. The good practices identified at national level by all the partners of the consortium were analyzed and included in the list of concrete actions to be carried out in favor of the target group.

The Social Integration of Migrant and Refugee Women – A Guide for Policy Makers

A Short Policy Guide (SPG) was developed with all the significant information presented in the Good Practice Guide in a more cohesive and dense way. It includes scenarios and recommendations on MRW integration. The feedback received from external associated organizations has already been very positive, for they regarded it as a very useful tool for relevant policy-making.

Booklet of “MRW stories of change”

The booklet gathers the testimonies of MRW who have participated in WEMIN activities in the partner countries. Each story is different: some women share their experiences from the integration process in the host communities; others are focused on how the WEMIN project has helped them to improve their lives and there are even some stories where women talk about their past. This document aims to disseminate these women’s voices around Europe, and therefore to contribute to their empowerment.

Peer learning methodology and training materials used during the interventions

A detailed collection of existing training material (in the fields of free language learning software, vocabulary related to social and cultural life, history of the host country, core values of host country, social and cultural life in host country, the European dimension, principles of intercultural communication) has been completed; the material has been uploaded on the online peer learning platform. The WEMIN guidelines for training and the peer learning methodology are a useful basis for such future activities.

Digital training material (videos and e-learning material)

All the digital training material produced during the WEMIN project implementation, will be used in future training activities accordingly. Since, it is uploaded on the WEMIN platform it can be easily exploited by any other interested body in the world, from now and onwards. Using the illustration as communication language proved to be very challenging and interesting.

Methodology and content guide of empowerment and mentoring

The empowerment and mentoring sessions dealt with topics such as job seeking, education system, voting and the electoral system, further education opportunities etc. The methodology implemented by the WEMIN project has been already used in other new projects and initiatives of the partner organizations and the networked stakeholders e.g. within public schools by helping high level migrant students through volunteer tutoring services, during events and info-days as useful tools for teachers, cultural mediators and social workers in reception centers for asylum seekers and refugees, etc. The digital training and empowerment material along with their application guidelines can also be found in the WEMIN peer learning platform.

Workshop plan (methodology and artistic pieces)

The cultural workshops of the WEMIN project aimed to bring together migrant, refugee and local women; they triggered ideas to the women involved for artistic or craft creations. Furthermore, the creations from the cultural workshops turned out to be lovely art pieces. With this regard, they have been exploited as content for exhibitions and/or as content for decoration. The methodology applied for the implementation of the cultural workshops proved to be effective.

Workshop scrapbooks

Impressive scrapbooks have been produced by the partners that correspond to the experiences shared by the MRW and local women involved in the cultural workshops. It is regarded as a tool that matches perfectly with the “booklet of the MRW stories of change” and an excellent basis to showcase the potential of migrant communities and the fruitful results of peaceful co-existence and co-creation within society.

Online peer learning platform

It has played a central role in empowering the WEMIN community (MRW and the host communities) in general, while also it has been used as a focal point for networking, synergy and supporting peer learning. Digital material, communication and other platform tools have always been universally available through desktop or mobile devices, which was critically helpful, especially for the WEMIN target group. Because of the platform modern and friendly appearance, it has been used not only by migrant women and host communities but also by other smaller or larger groups with common interests, like mediators, volunteers etc.

All the WEMIN results and outcomes were presented during the big international closing conference that was organized on 8^th and 9^th December 2019 by the DAISSy research group of HOU in Athens (Greece). The conference triggered the interest of more than 150 participants, among them scholars, experts and practitioners, representatives of authorities, institutions, organizations and associations, active citizens, and more generally anyone involved in the study, research and practice in the fields of migration, migration policy, empowerment and social integration of refugees, as well as related topics. MRW being beneficiaries of the project actions, attended the conference and its workshops and presented the valuable experiences they have gained through their active involvement in the WEMIN project.

The WEMIN project enhanced the smooth MRW integration into the European cities where they live, enabling them to play a leading role and act as integration multipliers within their families and their circle of contacts. At the same time, the WEMIN actions offered opportunities to stimulate dialogue, intercultural relations and exchanges, while the online peer learning platform was been used to promote learning and networking.

It is noteworthy that the WEMIN project has developed results and tools that can be further exploited and contribute to a long-term impact beyond its implementation period. It is envisaged that the exploitation process will lead to the delivering of new services for MRW, the creation of new teaching and learning opportunities for them, so that to support their social, cultural, political and economic integration into their host country society. The project platform will be maintained by HOU-DAISSy beyond the completion of the  project (https://culturalmediators.eu/wemin-platform/register/). This allows all interested bodies to use it e.g.  staff of oganisations working for the benefit of  migrants and refugees integration (such  as social workers, cultural mediators, teachers/tutors, etc.).

You can be informed in detail about the WEMIN project and access its outputs by visiting www.wemin-project.eu or by following #WEMIN.

DAISSy

DLIC’s collection of printed materials includes more than 43,000 titles of books and magazines and covers all cognitive subjects of HOU, whereas there is a huge number of valid scientific electronic sources such as Databases, Electronic Books, Electronic Magazines, Thematic Gates, Sectoral Studies, Depository and Heal-Link Sources. These could be easily accessed by students through DLIC website by using their personal codes. Find out more about DLIC of HOU by visiting http://lib.eap.gr/en .
Here is how you can find out more about BIBLIO project as well as about DAISSy and its activities:

• Website   :  https://daissy.eu/
• Facebook:  @DAISSyResearchGroup @DigitalBiblio
• Linkedin  :  https://www.linkedin.com/in/daissyresearchgroup/
• Twitter     :  https://twitter.com/daissy_research, @digital_biblio
• Instagram: @daissy_researchgroup
• Email: info@daissy.eap.gr

• 80 professionals with an EQF-6 average educational background took part in the survey and 71% of them indicate 30 years of work experience on the average.
• 78% declared that their skills and knowledge need to be updated to complete their responsibilities.
• Among them, there are the elderly (37%), the students (29%) and the young people of less than 18 years of age (25%), who mostly wish for more digital activities!

More precisely, top priority theme turns out to be the social media management and the marketing of library activities whereas, the survey participants also express their 5 top preferences on training themes, i.e. exploration of technological changes; measurement and evaluation of library services; digitization; community assessment; library marketing and communications.

The survey was completed by DAISSy Research Group of Hellenic Open University supported by Distance Library and Information Center (D.L.I.C.) of the Hellenic Open University (HOU) between March 30 and May 11th 2020.

For more information on BIBLIO #DigitalBiblio, you can visit/contact us at:
Website https://www.biblio-project.eu/

Website : https://daissy.eu/, https://www.biblio-project.eu/
Facebook : @DAISSyResearchGroup, @digitalbiblio
Linkedin : https://www.linkedin.com/in/daissyresearchgroup/
Twitter : https://twitter.com/daissy_research
Instagram : @daissy_researchgroup
Email : info@daissy.eap.gr

#EAP #HOU #DAISSy #europeanprojects #BIBLIOsurvey #librarians #Greece

The so called “Startups on Air” event involved innovative ideas and startups, success and failure stories and is powered by #PatrasIQ (Innovation & Technology), the reference and interconnection point of the relevant ecosystem of the city of Patras. It is noteworthy, that the “PATRAS IQ” initiative embraces education, innovation, research and entrepreneurship on annual basis and at national level for more than seven years on the row. It has been strongly supported by Hellenic Open University (HOU) since the beginning and is being implemented in Patras, metropolitan centre of Western Greece, the city of the HOU Headquarters.

More precisely, the “Startups on Air” powered by “Patras IQ”, is supported by the Chamber of Commerce of Achaia, the University of Patras, the Hellenic Open University (HOU), the Patras Science Park, the National Bank of Greece, the POS4work Innovation and Entrepreneurship Node, the InterMediaKT (NGO), the Orange Grove and other agencies. This initiative is also sponsored by “Teleicce” EU project targeting the promotion of the most up-to-date tele-working and mass open -online training for improving  the competitiveness of SMEs and the employment of professionals, funded by the “INTERREG V-A Greece-Italy” EU Program (www.Interregteleicce.eu).

Prof Achilles KAMEAS, Director of DAISSy Research Group of HOU, the Greek partner of BIBLIO, participated in the “Startups on Air” EduTech session – he presented related actions of DAISSy and focused on the BIBLIO project taking into account its innovative content and its firm interconnection with the impact of technology and digitalization on the libraries world! The online discussion was vivid and raised the interest of the speakers and participants from the sectors of ICT, economy and finance, education and research, innovation and entrepreneurship. It proved to be an excellent platform of matching BIBLIO with PATRAS IQ and INTERREG providing added value to the establishment of new bonds, the enrichment of stakeholders, the promotion of the project and its current results (https://www.facebook.com/events/282171829800089).

Here is how you can find more information on BIBLIO #DigitalBiblio and other activities of DAISSy:

Website https://www.biblio-project.eu/

Website : https://daissy.eu/, https://www.biblio-project.eu/
Facebook : @DAISSyResearchGroup, @digitalbiblio
Linkedin : https://www.linkedin.com/in/daissyresearchgroup/
Twitter : https://twitter.com/daissy_research
Instagram : @daissy_researchgroup
Email : info@daissy.eap.gr

More precisely, the EUHeritage project (Skills for promotion, valorization, exploitation, mediation and interpretation of European Cultural Heritage) aims to contribute to innovative and cross-disciplinary approaches, so as to create a new transnational curriculum for cultural heritage professionals, focused on digital skills, transferable and transversal competences, soft skills and skills connected to “experience tourism” in the field of Cultural Heritage (CH).

• This will be achieved first by identifying the necessary competences and the skills required for the cultural heritage professionals, then by developing the occupational core profiles for professionals employed in the field of CH (level 5 and 6 EQF) and by providing targeted training together with a set of assorted tools. The report analysis is already available online through the EUHeritage’s website.
• The training will be built on three pillars i.e. cultural heritage, experience tourism and digital dimension, with the outer goal to create and produce innovative experiences for tourists and local communities for a sustainable promotion of  CH using digital dimension developing participation and  links with creative communities. The course will be on-line during spring 2021.
• The tools will include an instructional meta-methodology, where new scenarios will be included that the pandemic situation activated in the cultural and tourism contexts: new paradigms of interpretation needed, in order to rethink the products, the demand, the activities of the offer and the policies to re-launch destinations and sites!

It is noteworthy, that the EUHeritage e-platform will be created under Creative Commons licenses and Open Educational Resources – it is expected to foster the cooperation of the CH sector with other sectors and industries, in particular technology, tourism, SMEs, and Creative and Cultural industries, to allow further scope for creativity, innovation and sustainability.

The #BIBLIO and #EUHeritage findings will be transferred bilaterally and effectively by DAISSy Research Group of HOU within the implementation period, so that the beneficiaries of both projects fully gain from this valuable exchange of experience (https://www.biblio-project.eu/stories/euheritage-project/).

Here is how you can find more information on BIBLIO and other activities of DAISSy:

• Website : https://daissy.eu/, https://www.biblio-project.eu/
• Facebook : @DAISSyResearchGroup, @digitalbiblio
• Linkedin : https://www.linkedin.com/in/daissyresearchgroup/
• Twitter : https://twitter.com/daissy_research
• Instagram : @daissy_researchgroup
• Email : info@daissy.eap.gr

The above issues are addressed by the AMELib (Accessible Multi-modal Electronic Library), whom mission is to provide electronic scientific books to the students with reading disabilities studying in the Greek Universities.

People with reading disabilities include: a) blind people, b) visually impaired people, who can not acquire a visual function substantially equivalent to that of persons without such problems, and who therefore cannot read publications with the same substantial easiness as persons without such problems; c) persons with a perceptual or reading disability, who therefore are not in a position to read publications with the same substantial ease as persons without such a disability, d) people who are unable to hold a book in their hands or to handle a book or to focus or move their gaze to such an extent that it would normally be satisfactory to read.

The Distance Library and Information Centre (HOU_DLIC) of the Hellenic Open University (#HOU), with the approval of the HOU Governing Body, has given to AMELib its entire graduate textbook collection. The books after being appropriately processed, are added to the digital collection of the AMELib. Students with reading disabilities may have access through the AMELib and their university authentication system. https://www.biblio-project.eu/stories/hou-amelib/

• For this regard, the HOU_DLIC is a member of the “Collaborative Network of Accessible Bibliography Holders” (hereinafter the “Collaborative Network-CN”) that operates within the association of the “Hellenic Academic Libraries, HEAL-Link”. All CN members share accessible material, know-how and best practices, on the basis of the copyright exception.
• The CN operates in Cyprus and Greece aiming to develop the necessary infrastructure regarding policies, services and technologies in order to eliminate discrimination against people with disabilities, and in particular people with reading disabilities, by serving inclusive education policies

The Distance Library and Information Centre (HOU_DLIC) is a fundamental associate partner of the DAISSy Research Group of HOU, the Greek project partner of BIBLIO (#digitalskills, @DigitalBiblio) and is firmly involved in the project implementation.

Find out more about AMELib at:

• https://amelib.seab.gr/
• https://www.facebook.com/amelib.seab.9 

Find out more about BIBLIO project and other activities of DAISSy at:

• Instagram: @daissy_researchgroup
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/daissy_research
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daissyresearchgroup/
• Facebook: @DAISSyResearchGroup, @DigitalBiblio
• Website  : https://daissy.eu/
• https://www.biblio-project.eu/
• Email : info@daissy.eap.gr

Despite the containment measures due to COVID-19, the 3^rd Transnational Project Meeting, originally planned in Skopje (Republic of North Macedonia), was successfully held in online mode.

The implementation of the project goes on smoothly. The meeting started with a presentation from IWS which showcased the main functionalities of the project platform that has been further enriched with training contents, one of the core results of the project after more than one year of implementation.

In the forthcoming months, the work will be focused on Test & Validation (T&V) activities to deliver training contents directly to the target group and on receiving feedback for further development; the partners will also prepare clear Guidelines to guarantee further sustainability and future exploitation of project results.
In fact, the products created will be tested in the five countries on at least 200 people from the Target Groups. The partners will organize training activities (online and, where possible, face-to-face) for students but also teachers to collect their feedback, aimed to promote and test the training contents.

The Skopje University representative, which will lead the activities within this process, presented its T&V plan, with a detailed description of activities and a clear distribution of roles among partners. Partners were also focused on defining a clear dissemination strategy to raise awareness on project activities and results. This will allow to reach more target groups in the T&V phase and for the limited face-to-face meeting opportunities.

The main goal of ALL ROUTES LEAD TO ROME is to enable university students to identify and pursue the best strategies to maximise the economic return of the ancient routes network, develop basic and transversal skills such as self-reliance, leadership, and the ability to work in groups, problem solving, mastering of digital skills and multilingualism.

DAISSy Research Group contributes in all phases of the project, such as field research, creation of open educational content, piloting, dissemination and exploitation.