A Teacher Workshop on the EU and its Eastern Neighbors for Middle School, High School, and Community College Educators
August 12th, 2015 from 9am – 5pm Thomson 317, University of Washington, Seattle
Sponsored by: the Center for West European Studies, the European Union Center of Excellence, the Ellison Center for Russian, East European and Central Asian Studies, and the Center for Global Studies
Hosted by: Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies
Migration driven by conflict, persecution, poverty, and the desire for a better life, is escalating throughout Europe. The surge in immigrants and asylum seekers has brought debates on multiculturalism to the forefront of politics in Western Europe as authorities and national leaders grapple with mounting xenophobia and the rise of far-right parties. Meanwhile in Eastern Europe, state authorities worry about a “lost generation” as the young and educated move abroad for jobs in numbers that threaten to cripple the countries they leave behind.
There are many different migration patterns flowing throughout the continent: From the about dramatic rescues of migrants from the Middle East and Africa landing on Europe’s Mediterranean shores, to conflict-displaced Ukrainians leaving in great numbers for Russia, Poland, and other European states, to the growing brain-drain pattern of young and highly educated emigrants from the Balkans and Southern Europe heading to England, France, Germany, northern Europe, and even newer European Union member states like Slovenia.
This August, the Center for West European Studies, the European Union Center of Excellence, the Ellison Center for Russian, East European and Central Asian Studies, and the Center for Global Studies are partnering for an educator workshop. The one-day event is designed to consider current immigration and emigration patterns throughout Europe and the steps the European Union and different countries are taking to respond to these challenges. What measures are taken to handle the influx of multicultural migrants, or conversely, to alleviate an exodus spurred on by economic factors or conflict?
Teachers will discuss and debate current migratory and multicultural issues facing Europe to equip themselves with the tools necessary to teach complicated and controversial subjects in schools and community college settings. Participants will consider how changing demographics affect both national and common European senses of identity. Migration patterns in different European regions will provide rich examples of diverse immigrant and refugee populations, a wide variety of triggers for emigration, asylum policy, human rights concerns, and instances of xenophobia.
The registration fee is $35. The workshop includes clock hours, parking, teaching materials and a catered lunch. Preference is given to full-time teachers.
