Extending Academic Collaboration Beyond the FIAS Programme

The reception of young exiles and migrants has long been a concern for primary, secondary, and higher education teachers, with didactic and pedagogical questions becoming more urgent since 2015 (with the mass arrival of Syrian refugees) and 2022 (with the Russian invasion of Ukraine).

In this context, MIGRACT is research project (led by Remelice – University of Orléans), established to observe the teaching practices and educative programmes in schools near Orléans (France); Its main objective is to use art as a base in creating a stable environment and improve the good empathy and trust that are necessary for learning the language and culture of the host society.

Aneta Slowik, an educational researcher at the University of Lower Silesia (Wroclaw), benefitted from a fellowship from the Centre Region and the FIAS Programme to observe the reception of Ukrainian refugees in France and discover the method, centered on artistic practices, defined by MIGRACT. This Erasmus+ “job shadowing” project was designed to allow, in turn, observation of the research and practices of the Polish team to integrate young refugees into school curricula as quickly as possible while limiting trauma.

Dr. Aneta Slowik (Le Studium FIAS 2023/2024 & the University of Lower Silesia DSW, Wroclaw, Poland) hosted Dr. Genevieve Guetemme as part of her continued collaboration with the University of Orleans (ERCAE et REMELICE lab).

Dr. Guetemme's visit included visits to primary and secondary schools, co-teaching classes for students at University of Lower Silesia DSW with Dr. Aneta Slowik, and planning research and teaching projects including BIP – an international course addressed to students from five universities (including the University of Orleans, University of Lower Silesia DSW) on intercultural education.

Program from November 25 to December 1, 2025

The five-day program in Wroclaw was developed in collaboration with the International Relations Office of the University of Lower Silesia. It consisted of meetings with teachers and administrators, as well as the observation of classroom sessions.

Activities included:

- Meeting with university administrators from the international services and observing and discussing a session with trainee teachers and educators.

- Attending primary school lessons (a class of 6-year-olds that included refugees from Ukraine).

- Attending three secondary school sessions (high-school-level students).