July 25
3:30 - 4:30 pm
This is a hybrid event; join in person (A343 at Duncan McArthur Hall) or on Zoom
Registration now closed
By Dr. Kerstin Merz-Atalik, Professor in the Department of Special Education, Ludwigsburg University of Education, Germany
This presentation is based on a recent book, titled “European Perspectives on Inclusive Education in Canada. Critical Comparative Insights”, published in June 2022 and edited by Dr. Kerstin Merz-Atalik, our very own Dr. Theodore Christou and Dr. Ian Matheson, and others. The UNCRPD/UN-Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006) and the SDG-Sustainable Development Goals (UN 2015; adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015) have been reminders, to further reflect and evaluate the accessibility, inclusiveness and the equality for all in the education-systems world-wide. The UN have set the goal of equal opportunities in education for all (SDG 4; 2015) by 2030. Inclusive education can be seen as a “technical problem” or as a “cultural policy” (Slee & Weiner 2015; Slee 2020; UNESCO 2005). The presentation will give an overview about diverse policy and governance strategies, to discuss issues and successes of inclusive education reforms in the European Countries (using data and video-materials about Germany, Iceland and Italy). The research is based on a governance-theoretical approach (Altrichter 2015), comparative analyses of normative and regulative frameworks, the governance-structures (Participative-Network-Analyses; Merz-Atalik 2018; Merz-Atalik & Beck 2020) and the practice of inclusive education in schools (T-DiverS- EU Network).
Biography:
Dr. Kerstin Merz-Atalik studied educational science with a focus on special education at the Phillips University Marburg and Technical University Berlin, Germany. She worked for several years at elementary schools as a socio-pedagogical case worker, supporting the integration of children with special needs in the areas of "learning" or "social and emotional development". After several years of teaching at the Technical University of Berlin and the University Potsdam, she was a research assistant in special and inclusive education at the University of Halle (1995-2000; 2002-2004), and held a professorship for general special education at the University of Giessen (2001-2002). Since 2004, she has been a full professor at Ludwigsburg University of Education with a focus on "Education considering disability and disadvantage/inclusion". In 2008-2014, she was Vice-Rector for Studies, Teaching and International Relations at the PH Ludwigsburg. Her research and work focuses on governance of inclusive education reforms (in the EU), teacher education for inclusion, inclusive school development, teamwork and cooperation of educators in inclusive teaching, and issues of pedagogy in the migration society.
Within these focal points she has scientifically led, coordinated and cooperated in a variety of model projects, led working groups for the development of teacher training regulations, and was involved on the national level in developing the curricula for teacher education programs, participated in national and international projects and conducted research nationally as well as internationally on inclusive education and teacher education. She was a founding member of the online journal "Inklusion Online." In 2006, Dr. Kerstin Merz-Atalik initiated a First Inclusion Day in Baden-Württemberg (symposium for teachers, parents, schools and associations) and since then she has co-organized the annual Inclusion Day Baden-Württemberg (in the organizer association).