Final preparations for benchmarking visit

Time flies and the first benchmarking workshop begins next week. The general benchmarking process includes a number of stages which all have an important role in the whole process. What has been our project groups interest in planning this process, is that:

• Benchmarking should benefit all parties
• Benchmarking provides a way of peer learning
• Aim is to find, share and develope best practices
• Focus from comparing to learning and developing in cooperation 
• From benchmarking to benchlearning

The themes that will be discussed, compared, analyzed and developed in cooperation during benchmarking process are:

• Regional cooperation in terms of special needs education
• Vocational special needs educator -programme
• Individual learning paths
• Multiprofessionalism (in learning support and guidance)

The programme of benchmarking visit includes visits to our partner university, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Secondary Vocational School of Gardening in Kopidlno and Vocational School of handicrafts Prague. In these educational institutes we will meet the administrative personnel, teachers and students.

The final preparations are being made at the moment and the atmosphere of the participants is expectant.

Photo: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Vltava_in_Prague.jpg

PLANNING THE FIRST BENCHMARKING-WORKSHOP IN PRAGUE

First benchmarking-workshop in Prague will start in a few weeks. Planning has been intensive in two ways:

We have met our collagues in Prague in order to plan practical arrangements and thematical issues. Co-operation by Skype has been successful and workshop-programme will be interesting and we all will learn a lot, I'm sure.

    
                                         Maija and Barbora discussing in Skype


Finnish participants of workshop come from two big vocational schools in Tampere and of course also from TAMK, School of Vocational Teacher Education. We have met twice before the worksop and at this moment we design the questions and issues to be solved in Prague.

                                         Sanna, Annikki and Maija in work