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_ _ Doke Doude van Troostwijk
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_ _ Hannie Pelleboer-Beuker
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_ _ A self-study-group in a non-universitary institute
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_ Concluding Report
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Concluding Report

Stand:


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B.4 Some more evaluation.


At the very moment tensions were present, after a long period of preparation, the second evaluation took place.
An extensive questionnaire asked for opinions on:
1: Project preparation:
1.1 Recruitment
1.2 Informative meetings

2: Execution of project:
2.1 Organisation
2.2 Methodology
2.3 Group processes.


Apart from the many good experiences with working in teams, there were also critical remarks manifesting obscurities within the organisation.
This criticism led to more transparency already pointed out in an earlier learning experience.
A number of participants were clearly overburdened which made an explicit choice for the self-study philosophy essential.



B.5 Exchange benefits from personal contact.


Learning experience 13: Personal contact helps levelling barriers.
We had regular discussions on how to stimulate international exchanges and which factors stood in the way.



B.6.1 The language barrier.

A major threshold in international contacts is of course the language barrier. When participants only master their own language it becomes an impediment. Furthermore it appears that writing in English (the project language) is considerably more difficult than using English in a man to man conversation.
Employing translators seems simple but has some practical disadvantages.
A member of a team with knowledge of languages could be overstrained by too many translations and will be unable to perform the tasks he or she has intentionally chosen to do.
Usually the co-ordinator is unable to take care of the translations.
The effort of our SoLiLL friends in Lyon to establish an international forum deserves a lot of respect.
Nevertheless such a forum only creates a linguistic condition. Not all obstacles can be eliminated. Which obstacles do remain?


B.6.2 The collective thematic factor was non-existing.

A number of Arnhem participants stated that the lack of a more defined collective theme was a handicap.
It would not do to criticise this aspect because we did not do justice to Gaby and Carmen during the preparation when they were drawing our attention to our extensive theme.
Nevertheless it is an important aspect as it is one of the basic elements of the self-study methodology in relation with inherent motivation and the feeling of being involved with the subject.
To have a successful exchange the others have to feel related to the theme.

A positive illustration of the importance of a collective thematic factor is the example of one of our team members who is also a member of the board of an Arnhem association for the elderly. Through the SoLiLL project he came in touch with a colleague of the ¨Seniorenrat¨ in Ulm and a valuable exchange materialised regarding pensioners´ policy in both cities.

We have no clear conception of how we should have brought about that collective thematic element within the SoLiLL project. It seems impractical to alter the object of research when an organisation has already invited the participants as this invitation is often done by means of a thematic sign-board.
Therefore it seems meaningful to get the participating organisations on the right track even before the start of the project.

Learning experience 14: Organising the first partner meeting before the start of the project?
In an international co-operative effort of international organisations it seems desirable to organise the first partner meeting before the actual start of the project. Thus fine-tuning practical, methodical, theoretical and thematic aspects can take place.



B.6.3 Every solution requires a plan for implementation.

Besides a practical solution for the linguistic problem by for instance a forum, producing a plan for implementation, that gives participants an incentive to actually use it, is essential.


B.6.4 The programme should offer room for exchange.

Our participants learned that because of the abridged programme together with the tasks at hand there was not much margin to explore the international contacts properly.