The research has been conducted on the basis of theoretical reflection given to the Project by authors and partners involved1 during meetings and contributions exchanged and shared in the preliminary steps of the research concerning the evaluation results of different case studies in the field of education.
The debate on the meaning of intercultural education is largely exposed in the report and in many other publications. In complex societies education plays a major role to equip young people for making the best use of living in diversity. It is equally important to encourage adult-learning by “training the trainers” like teachers and other facilitators who can pass on their knowledge and information, thus creating a much desired “snowball-effect”.2 Some tools have proven successful in the process of intercultural learning and training. This report is meant at introducing to projects or actions which are examples of “good practice” on a trans-national level in Europe and that can be used as tools for dissemination of an inclusive educational culture.
This research has lead to the recognition of different stages of intercultural education development: the evaluated practices showed how distinct is the interest in the definition of “interculturalism”: a bigger focus on the definition of what is “interculturalism” and “multiculturalism” is distinguishable in Italy, where experts and researchers are currently committed in a strong effort for the definition of the meaning of interculturalism and consequences of diversity. In other European countries (particularly in northern Europe), most activities and projects are directed to answer to practical and ordinary needs of migrants. In the documents collected for the completion of this research, most northern practices are mainly intended as interventions on specific topics and problems (language, communication, inclusion), and rarely address much space to the preliminary definition of their approach, within the debate on multiculturalism and cultural diversity management.