PRESS RELEASE: INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON SERVICE-LEARNING FOR PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION HELD IN TUZLA

International Conference on Service-learning for Primary and Secondary Education with the topic “How can we support students’ comprehensive learning within the education system?”, was held in Tuzla on June 20, 2018 as a result of a partnership between the International Association of Open Interactive Schools in Tuzla (MIOS) and the Latin American Center for Service Learning and Solidarity (CLAYSS) from Argentina.

Although designed mainly for management of primary and secondary schools in the Tuzla Canton as well as in the entire BiH, the conference had an open character and gathered representatives of non-governmental organisations from the education sector, representatives of the faculties of the University of Tuzla, the Association of Pedagogues of the Tuzla Canton and other interested public.

Through the planar presentations by Luz Avruj, the coordinator for professional training of CLAYSS and Edina Malkić, the director of the MIOS, participants were able to learn more about service-learning and application in practice within BiH, as well as the diversity of approaches of service-learning in the world. The aim of the conference was to present the methodology of service-learning – learning through engagement, as well as to encourage participants, especially educators, to exchange examples and challenges from practice by applying this methodology in BiH as well as around the world.

This conference has attended by a representative of the Federal Ministry of Education and Science from the education sector, Ms. Geraldina Marijanovic, expressing her way of  giving support to service-learning but, on the other hand, was also eager to hear all the challenges that educational staff face every day.

In the second part of the conference, participants were invited into group discussions about the key issues related to link between community and service, internalisation of experience and school subjects into the entire network of knowledge and skills, student participation in the learning process, as well as the very way in which service-learning can be achieved in our schools.

At the end of the day,  in the marvellous space of the Atelier Ismet Mujezinović’s participants were invited to write their promises of what will be done by the end of 2018 in the field of service-learning, inserting them into a time capsule that will be opened in December 2018. The discussion continued in the courtyard of the Atelier where the participants had the opportunity to further share their experiences and ideas.

MIOS wishes to appreciate the Federal Ministry of Education and Science, the City of Tuzla, the JU Center for Culture Tuzla, CLAYSS, the representatives of primary and secondary schools TK, UNITZ faculties, partner organizations and all participants for contribution to the realisation of the International Service-learning Conference “How can we support student comprehensive learning within the education system?”.