Cultural Awareness Supporting Training for Innovation

CAST4Innovation - Cultural Awareness Supporting Training for InnovationDiversity and diverse communities add and enrich society and the first steps are to be comfortable in one’s own culture and embrace other cultures to make a more tolerant, inclusive and successful society for all that enables people to make a difference wherever they are residing.This project focuses on the gap of training for trainers of cultural awareness and innovation that by sharing good practices.This project from September 2018 to March 2021 developed a working model between 5 partners from Italy, Turley, Greece and Scotland and coordinated by the lead partner, CRAICNI, Northern Ireland to be innovative in giving trainers the best tools and resources from our shared experiences and practices. Each partner worked at all stages to support our innovative practices to create a training package in cultural awareness which resulted in the course ' Level 3 Delivering Cultural Awareness Training' at its highest level (A- level) and regulated by CCEA curriculum, Northern Ireland. This project developed a Cultural Awareness Training for Trainers courses, resulting in 2 accredited courses and a certified course online:1. Level 3 Delivering Cultural Awareness Training (Blended learning): 2 units, 6 modules, workbook and assessment on micro-teaching2. Endorsed Certificate in Developing Cultural Awareness Skills (Blended learning): 2 units, 6 modules, full attendance; assessment through class time and participation3. Certificate of Attendance: Cultural Awareness Supporting Trainers (online course): attendance online of 2 units and 6 modulesCOURSE AIM – To become qualified cultural awareness trainers from this transnational training programme, learning available both online and person to person, in order to break down barriers to integration and develop civic skills.COURSE OBJECTIVES – the course addresses racism and xenophobia; aims to increase mutual understanding by raising cultural awareness; develop the capacity of cultural diversity trainers; use music, art, literature, sport and cuisine as examples of creative illustrations of pathways to equality and social cohesion and understand the world around us through cultural awareness.The training adopts a two-unit, six modules structure: UNIT 1 – Understanding Cultural Awareness And DiversityModule 1.1 - Cultural awareness and diversityLearning Outcome: Understand the importance of cultural awareness and diversityModule 1.2 - Cultural self - awarenessLearning Outcome: Understand own position on Cultural AwarenessModule 1.3 - Culture and creativityLearning Outcome: Understand how to explore cultural awareness through Cultural ArtsUNIT 2 – Understanding And Using Inclusive Cultural Awareness Approaches In TrainingModule 2.1 – Approaches to Inclusive LearningLearning Outcome: Understand inclusive teaching and learning approaches in cultural awareness trainingModule 2.2 – Effective Learning environmentLearning Outcome: Understand ways to create an inclusive teaching and learning environment in cultural awareness trainingModule 2.3 - Planning Cultural awareness trainingLearning Outcome: Be able to plan inclusive cultural awareness trainingThe target group for the courses are community educators, mentors, facilitators, activists, volunteers and practitioners with an interest in Delivering Cultural Awareness Training. These included the following and the results:- individuals not currently delivering training in cultural awareness- individuals currently delivering training in cultural awareness- individuals currently working as assessors who wish to achieve a qualification providing an introduction to delivering training in cultural awarenessSome useful statistics for the Cast4innovation course so far is as follows:- 87 trainers trained as direct participants - 160 Trainers engaged In Training Activities And Workshops, Course Development and Participation.- 28 Trainers who Have Registered for the accredited course and completed (or completing) the workbook.- 50 Trainers awarded Certificates of attendanceIncreasing migration from newer communities, asylum seekers and refugees, economic migrants has meant an increase in the need to understand different cultures and build improved relationships. There is lots of evidence to suggest that racism and xenophobia exist across the UK and Europe due to a breakdown of the understanding difference.The course aims to bring about the innovation of linking visible and invisible culture, compounded by the understanding of training in inclusive environments. The course developed is underpinned by the understanding of self-awareness. To reach Level 3, a micro-teaching session is required for assessment for accreditation and this brings the 2 units together. For more information: https://www.cast4innovation.com/