Nov. 15, 2017, 9:18 a.m. |   Novosti

Ante Kuzmanić Medical School Zadar successfully resumes its Erasmus + trip. The theme of the NAIS project (NAIS - New Angles of Good Practices on Inclusion for All Students) is to present examples of good practice for involving students from different socially sensitive environments (migrants, minorities, confessions) and students with special needs in a regular educational process. In addition to our school, the project also includes three other schools: the Tukums general secondary school in Latvia, the Sint-Jozefinstituut BuSO School of Special Needs Education in Antwerp in Belgium, and Liceo's Technology from Arad, Romania. The project started in November 2016, and representatives of these schools have so far met on three occasions, including students. The fourth, but no less important, step is the meeting of professors of the mentioned schools in Tukums in Latvia from 7 to 14 October 2017. As representatives of the NAIS team of Ante Kuzmanić Medical School, Zadar is attended by professors: project coordinator Edin Kadić, Ivana Lučić, Ante Ražnjević and Ivan Raspović. It is well known that the size of a man in his decision, and our team has boldly caught up with the activities called "Joint Staff Training in Latvia". On Saturday, October 7 early in the morning we headed for Zagreb. Regardless of the morning, the car immediately flooded a positive atmosphere and a lot of laughter. Flight from Zagreb, Warsaw and finally the capital, Riga! Desiring new experiences and insight into the culture, history, gastronomy and mentality of Riga, the plan changes. Plans are here to change! Since we have met colleagues from Belgium, the younger members of our Belgian and our team decide to stay in Riga, while our coordinating coordinator, Professor Kadić and a part of the Belgian team, go to Tukums in a hotel that is organized for us all. There is an impatiently waiting for the Latvian coordinator. Sunday morning, gathering in the center of Riga and tourist adventures can begin. The Latvian, Belgian and Croatian spirit (the Rumanians arrive later!) Blend into one and embark on a tour of the Museum of Contemporary Art that leaves no one indifferent, and especially to our colleague who has missed the ankle due to cultural upheaval. With all empathy and understanding, we could not hide a homeric laugh. An interesting and exciting day was concluded with a joint dinner in which everyone enjoyed it. Monday, the first working day. Already at 9 o'clock, we meet in front of the hotel where the coordinator from Latvia is waiting for us. Minibus drives us to host school. The director, the co-ordinator from Tukums and other professors all wished us a warm welcome. They briefly present us upcoming activities and follow the school tour. Otherwise, in this school, we meet each morning, and it is specifically named "Tukums Evening and Distance Learning Secondary School" (Tukums Evening and Distance Learning Secondary School). The school has 343 students, with the emphasis being on helping students under the age of 18 who have learning problems or have had negative experiences during schooling. Also, the goal is to include adults who were forced to leave the education system due to different living conditions. Particularly, we have caught up with the extremely advanced technology they use (smart boards, e-learning, Moodle learning platform). In the school with 33 teachers are also a psychologist, social pedagogue, counselor and school nurse. Every morning, with the scent of the Latvian coffee, we comment on the thematic lectures, workshops and presentations, and see the similarities and differences of inclusion in Latvia, Belgium, Rumnius and Croatia. Regardless of diversity, we all find a common language: work to improve the conditions for students with special needs and pupils coming from various socially sensitive environments. This is the alpha and omega of our project! Monday is over with a welcome dinner with a good companion and acquaintance. Tuesday was a day reserved for presenting the "Moodle" distance learning tool. Below the coordinators analyzed the course of the project, we attended geography and Russian language classes to get to know directly how this school works. After a short coffee break, a lecture by the Oxford University Press entitled "Learning to Learn, Stimulating Student Learning Skills, Strategies That Help Students Learn Less Efficiently and More Productive." In the afternoon we visited the Tukums Elementary School. On Wednesday, we continued exchanging experiences of all schools participating in the project and working hard on recommendations and creating new ideas. Of course it is worth mentioning that every evening we were working as worms and tasting the Latvian gastronomy, and brave individuals also tried traditional drinks. In addition to working activities, we were at the height of the task and as tourists. We met on several occasions with the capital of Latvia, and we did not miss the sights of Tukums. We visited Jaunmoku Castle and a museum, estate and museum in the village of Šlokenbeka, and the Durbes estate.

Thursday and Friday are marked by similar work dynamics. Everyone had the opportunity to look at the material of the host school's teacher's looks and how they prepare the tests for the students, and in the exercises we have shown the creativity of the tests themselves. Particularly emotional part was visiting a school for children with special needs. The director, the pedagogue and the rest of the staff made us a wonderful welcome, and our students performed several performances for us (traditional dances, recitations, singing). Indeed, a special moment! We also visited a primary school that puts emphasis on extracurricular activities, mostly on playing various instruments. There was a moment for a dinner. Our Erasmus family, with wonderful food, summarized the impressions and made plans for the next show that will see the daylight in Romania. We continued the evening with bowling, and laughter did not fail at all! On Saturday, our hosts drove us to the port at Riga at three o'clock in the morning, and the Zagreb sun was spotted at noon. Tukums, Latvia and our hosts are deeply engrossed in our memory and we can hardly wait for a meeting in Zadar to try to show the best household. By that time all our ideas will be put on paper with the students and we will be guessing that such experiences can hardly be described. They really need to experience them.