The Northern Ireland Assembly Committee for Infrastructure has today visited the Connswater Community Greenway to see how the park is improving the quality of life for local people.

The Northern Ireland Assembly Committee for Infrastructure has welcomed the introduction of online applications for blue badges.

The Northern Ireland Assembly Committee for Infrastructure has criticised the delays in the issuing of Blue Badges for those with mobility problems.

The Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly, Robin Newton MBE, MLA will be among those attending the Battle of the Somme Commemoration at the Irish National War Memorial Gardens at Islandbridge in Dublin tomorrow. The event is being hosted by the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny T.D.

The Assembly’s Committee for the Economy calls for the clear failures highlighted by the Audit Office report into the Non-Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme to be urgently addressed. The highly critical Audit Office report indicated that there could be considerable cost to the taxpayer following serious systematic failings in the Scheme.

The Assembly’s Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee (AERA) received briefings today from a number of agricultural and environmental stakeholders on the possible challenges and opportunities of the recent EU Referendum.

The Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly, Mitchel McLaughlin MLA has expressed his delight at the significant increase in female Members returned during last week’s Assembly elections and stressed the importance of building on it.

ArchBeat interviews Dr. Frank Munz, the author of "Middleware and Cloud Computing: Oracle Fusion Middleware on Amazon Web Services and Rackspace Cloud."

ArchBeat interviews Dr. Frank Munz, the author of "Middleware and Cloud Computing: Oracle Fusion Middleware on Amazon Web Services and Rackspace Cloud."

Is the enterprise ready for a social revolution? A conversation with Oracle Enterprise 2.0 VP Andy Macmillan.

Oracle Enterprise 2.0 VP Andy MacMillan talks about how E20 impacts enterprise architecture and the mission of enterprise architects.

Oracle Enterprise 2.0 VP Andy MacMillan discusses measuring the ROI of enterprise social computing.

Bob Hensle and Scott Mattoon, the authors of two new Oracle white papers on Cloud Computing, discuss resources and strategies for making smart early cloud decisions.

In the final segment in this series, Bob Hensle and Scott Mattoon discuss why successful cloud migration may lead some organizations to become cloud providers.

Beyond the buzz, what impact is IoT having in the real world? How is it changing enterprise IT? A panel of experts shares their experience and insight.

Are Microservices and APIs Becoming SOA 2.0? Are monolithic applications an anti-pattern? Experts Chris Richardson, Luis Weir, Phil Wilkins, and Boris Scholl address these and other questions in this roundtable discussion.

There is little in our lives that does not rely on software. That has been the reality for quite some time, and it will be even more true as self-driving cars and similar technologies become an even greater part of our lives. But as our reliance on software grows, so does the potential for disaster as software becomes increasingly complex.

In September 2017 The Atlantic magazine featured “The Coming Software Apocalypse,” an article by James Somers, that offers a fascinating and sobering look at how rampant code complexity has caused massive failures in critical software systems, like the 2014 incident that left the entire state of Washington without 911 emergency call-in services until the problem was traced to software running on a server in Colorado.

One of the people interviewed in that Atlantic article was Chris Newcombe, an expert in dealing with software complexity. Chris, an architect on the Oracle Bare Metal infrastructure as a service team,  is one of the panelists for the discussion you are about to hear. Chris is joined by Java Champion and microservices expert Chris Richardson, Java Champion Adam Bein, and Oracle ACE Director and Developer Champion Lucas Jellema. The conversation focuses on what developers can do to combat complexity.

Representational State Transfer, known to its friends as REST, has been around for nearly two decades and has a substantial following. GraphQL, on the other hand, became publicly available in 2015, and only a few weeks ago moved under the control of the GraphQL Foundation, a project of the Linux Foundation. But despite its relative newcomer status, GraphQL has gained a substantial following of its own. Are you a RESTafarian? Or are you a GraphQL aficionado? Either way you'll want to listen to the latest Oracle Groundbreaker Podcast, as a panel of experts weighs the pros and cons of each technology.

View the complete show notes.

In a 5-month period beginning in late 2018, two Boeing 737 Max aircraft crashed in similar circumstances, killing 343 people. Investigators determined that in each case the crash was caused by problems with flight control software unique to that aircraft model. All 737 Max aircraft were subsequently grounded, where they remain, and the story remains in the news. This podcast, a rebroadcast of a show published on March 21, 2018, looks at the increasing complexity in software, and at what can be done to reduce that complexity and increase safety.

Community Managers Bob Rhubart and Javed Mohammed share the best of 25 years of Java.

May 23, 2020 marks the 25th anniversary of the first appearance of the Java programming language, as designed by James Gosling at Sun Microsystems. Despite the emergence of a number of competing languages over the years, Java, under Oracle’s stewardship since 2010, remains one of the most widely used languages in software development. It runs on 3 billion devices worldwide, and is used by more than 12 million developers.

In recognition of this milestone in Java’s evolution, we sought the insight of people who regularly work with Java. We wanted their perspectives on the significance of this anniversary, and on the intersection of Java and their lives, professional and otherwise. As you'll hear, for these people, Java is so much more than a technology.

Javed Mohammed from the Oracle Groundbreakers Developer Marketing Team speaks with three veterans helping to combat Covid.

Oracle’s COVID-19 therapeutic learning system is not just another APEX application  but it is also an Oracle cloud story, and it’s a human-technology story.  This application is used by patients to enter their health status as well as clinicians and physicians to track the efficacy of treatments for coronavirus. We go behind the scenes and hear the back story, from some of the developers, their roles and how it all got started and the road ahead.

Previous Podcasts have covered what low code platforms are and looked at the capabilities of such a platform, Oracle Application Express (APEX)

In this program a panel of three experts, share how a nationally visible program, Oracle’s COVID-19 Therapeutic Learning System was designed and built in record time. The panel features:

Joel R. Kallman, Senior Director, Software Development, Oracle America, Inc.

Scott Spendolini, Director, Software Development, Oracle America, Inc.

Shakeeb Rahman: Design Lead for Oracle APEX, Oracle America, Inc.

Read the complete show notes here.

In this episode Jim Grisanzio talks with Dmitry Alexandrov about his session at Jfokus 2021. Dmitry is a well known speaker at Java conferences globally, and at this month's Jfokus he ran a live coding session on Project Helidon, which is a collection of Java libraries for writing microservices. Dmitry covered the performance improvements and new features in Helidon 2.1. See his session abstract here.

But Helidon is not just a Java engineering project for writing microservices. It's also an Open Source project. So developers can contribute globally via the community on GitHub. This is the real power of the technology -- the people sharing their experience and contributing to the project. And this is where Dmitry really gets emotional when he talks about Helidon. As a software developer, he loves the technology, but there's something special about his tone when he talks about the people he meets in the community.

Dmitry has been a Java Champion for several years now, and he recently jointed Oracle in Bulgaria. Get him on Twitter @bercut2000. Jim Grisanzio is a Sr. Community Manager in Oracle Developer Relations. Get him on Twitter @jimgris. Video from the interview is on YouTube.

Podcast Host: Jim Grisanzio, Oracle Developer Relations
https://twitter.com/jimgris
https://developer.oracle.com/team/ 

Inspiring Builders: Part 2: Jim Grisanzio and Chris Bensen talk with Dale Dougherty from Make Magazine about the global phenomenon of Makers -- people who build with their bare hands and who give back to the community. This story is as old as it gets. We all have an inherent desire to build and collaborate and share, right?

Engaging Communities of Makers - People who Build with their Bare Hands (Video)

Dale Dougherty, Founder of Make Magazine
https://twitter.com/dalepd
https://twitter.com/make
https://twitter.com/makerfaire
https://makezine.com/
https://makerfaire.com/

Chris Bensen, Oracle Developer Relations
https://twitter.com/chrisbensen
YouTube: Chris Bensen: Inspiring Developers to Build Real Things
Building of Super Pi
Building the world’s largest Raspberry Pi cluster
The Seven Step Process to Creating an Amazing Demo
Starting a New Project — Pi Zero Custom Breadboard
Episode 1 - Custom Breadboard for Pi Zero

Podcast Host: Jim Grisanzio, Oracle Developer Relations
https://twitter.com/jimgris
https://developer.oracle.com/team/ 

Here are some photos, stories, and lessons I've collected over the years building Open Source software development communities at Sun Microsystems, Oracle, and on my own. I like taking photos and I like talking to developers — it's how I learn. So in this comprehensive commentary I talk about pretty much everything I've learned during the previous 15 years or so doing community development. Everything I've learned I still use today.

You can follow along with the photos below or view the video. I gave an earlier version of this talk at the All India Oracle User Group's (AIOUG) virtual OG Yatra in 2020, and I've talked about bits and pieces of the content in many other presentations. That's why I wanted to bring it all together into a single narrative centered around some specific images and stories. Hope it hangs together. 

Podcast Host: Jim Grisanzio, Oracle Developer Relations

https://twitter.com/jimgris
https://developer.oracle.com/team/ 

Photos

https://jimgrisanzio.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/grisanzio-community-stories.pdf

Video

https://youtu.be/nzo0PYv4tUM

Article

https://jimgrisanzio.wordpress.com/building-communities/

All India Oracle User Group OGYatra 2020 Slides

https://jimgrisanzio.files.wordpress.com/2020/06/2020-grisanzio-ogyatra.pdf

All India Oracle User Group OGYatra 2020 Video

https://youtu.be/gz7nMtWaUB0

Oracle Developer Relations Social

https://twitter.com/jimgris

https://twitter.com/groundbreakers

https://twitter.com/oracleace

https://twitter.com/oracleugs

https://developer.oracle.com/

From the Archives | December 2019 | Sangam 19, Hyderabad, India

Jim Grisanzio talks with Sandesh Rao and Sai Penumuru about the technology announcements at Sangam 2019 in Hyderabad and also the Sangam and OGYatra development community. In the discussion, Sai and Sandesh covered all the technology announcements Oracle made at the event, and all the community development activities that were taking place at the time. 

Video from the 2019 Interview
https://youtu.be/xvIlOlK0lek 

Sai Penumuru, President, AIOUG
https://twitter.com/sai_penumuru

Sandesh Rao, VP, AIOps, Oracle
https://twitter.com/sandeshr 

All India Oracle Users Group
http://www.aioug.org/ 

Sangam 19 Conference Website
http://www.aioug.org/sangam19/ 

Images from Sangam 19
https://flic.kr/s/aHsmJYoaz3 

Podcast Host: Jim Grisanzio, Oracle Developer Relations
https://twitter.com/jimgris
https://developer.oracle.com/team/ 

In this archives episode Jim Grisanzio from Oracle Developer Relations talks with Аlina Yurenko from Oracle on the GraalVM Project. The conversation took place in February 2020 at the Jfokus Java conference in Stockholm, Sweden. Alina talks about the state of the GraalVM project, the community, and Jfokus. Also see the video on YouTube.

In this conversation Oracle's Jim Grisanzio talks with Java developer Richard Fichtner at JavaOne Las Vegas 2022 about building the Java community and what Richard loves about Java.

Richard Fichtner, CEO, XDEV Software
https://twitter.com/RichardFichtner

Jim Grisanzio, Duke's Corner Podcast Host
https://twitter.com/jimgris

Podcast Video
https://youtu.be/Icf8AbfMAVw

Dev Java
https://dev.java/

Inside Java
https://inside.java/

In this conversation Oracle's Jim Grisanzio talks with Miro Wengner at JavaOne Las Vegas 2022 about his experiences with Java the technology, and why he loves Java the community. Miro serves on the JCP Executive Committee, he's a Java Champion, and he's a contributor to OpenJDK. He's also a friend I met back on the OpenSolaris project at Sun in 2008!

Miro Wengner, Java Champion
https://twitter.com/miragemiko

Jim Grisanzio, Java Developer Relations
https://twitter.com/jimgris

Images from JavaOne Las Vegas 2022
https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAdP6P

Podcast Video
https://youtu.be/FT4qpZRH2xU

Dev Java
https://dev.java/

Inside Java
https://inside.java/

In this conversation Oracle's Jim Grisanzio talks with Java Champion Brian Vermeer at JavaOne Las Vegas 2022 about the thriving Java community in The Netherlands, how to keep the Java community growing globally, and his thoughts on becoming a developer.

Brian Vermeer, Java Champion
https://twitter.com/BrianVerm

Jim Grisanzio, Java Developer Relations
https://twitter.com/jimgris

Images from JavaOne Las Vegas 2022
https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAdP6P

Podcast Video
https://youtu.be/Jlk6Dq9dB2c

Dev Java
https://dev.java/

Inside Java
https://inside.java/

Jim Grisanzio from Java Developer Relations talks with Stéphane Nicoll, a software engineer based in Belgium working on the Spring team. Stéphane talks about his experience becoming a Java developer, his observations seeing Java evolve and improve, and the importance of contributing to Java and Open Source generally. He's keen on building community by directly engaging engineers at events as well as mentoring contributors through the development process for issue reports and code changes. He said that "building our community is super important for us" as he outlined the process that he and his team uses to welcome new developers. That says it all.

Get Stéphane on Twitter @snicoll and get Jim on Twitter @jimgris

Jim Grisanzio from Java Developer Relations talks with Mary Grygleski, a Java developer and Java Champion based in Chicago. The conversation covers Java's longevity, building the Java community, running the Chicago Java User Group, and the constant need to keep learning. Mary embraces the concept of always becoming a beginner whenever there is a need to learn something new. During the interview Mary and Jim also discovered a common background they have with Sun Microsystems and Solaris! 

Mary on Twitter https://twitter.com/mgrygles
Jim on Twitter https://twitter.com/jimgris

Jim Grisanzio from Java Developer Relations talks with Marit van Dijk, a Java Champion and Developer Advocate at JetBrains based in The Netherlands. The conversation covers all things Java — the growing community, the latest features to enable developer productivity, contributing to Open Source, advice for students, and Marit's unique background in Social Science Informatics that combines computer science and social science.

Marit on Twitter https://twitter.com/MaritvanDijk77

Marit on the Web https://maritvandijk.com/

Jim on Twitter https://twitter.com/jimgris

Jim Grisanzio from Java Developer Relations talks with Praveen Mohan, Director of Java Quality and Infrastructure at the Oracle India Development Center in Bangalore, which is part of the Java Platform Group. The conversation covers the technical details of the quality engineering operation in Bangalore where 40 developers ensure that Java is tested to the highest standards possible before release. Also discussed is how much the team engages the Bangalore Java User Group to build close development relationships with the community.

Jim: https://twitter.com/jimgris
Praveen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mohanpraveen/

Jim Grisanzio from Java Developer Relations talks with Simon Martinelli, a Java Champion and an Oracle ACE Pro from Switzerland who loves contributing to FOSS projects and teaching students all about Java. The conversation ranges from Simon’s early experience learning Java, working for the Swiss Railway, engaging multiple Java User Groups, and teaching students. Simon also gets into the benefits of modern Java and some of the best features the technology offers for developers.

Simon: https://x.com/simas_ch

Jim: https://x.com/jimgris

COPENHAGEN, 18 July 2016 – In response to the attempted coup in Turkey and subsequent developments in the country, Ignacio Sanchez Amor (MP, Spain), Chairperson of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions, today issued the following statement:

“I regret the violent events that took place in Turkey on the night of 15 July, especially the loss of human lives, and reiterate OSCE PA President Christine Muttonen’s condemnation of the attempt to overthrow Turkey’s elected leaders. I was relieved by the restoration of constitutional order and the rapid resumption of parliamentary activity, as well as the agreement of the major parties on the constitutional legitimacy of institutions.

“However, I am concerned by some subsequent developments, including mass arrests of judges and other members of the judiciary. Legitimate legal responses to the coup must not lead to reprisals or hasty purges, and a responsible approach must be taken to safeguard democratic institutions. Indeed, it is particularly at times of crisis that democratic approaches and institutions must be upheld.

“I call for the calm and prudent use of state powers, and for Turkish authorities to ensure that the constitutional order is consolidated through respecting human rights and the independence of democratic institutions.”

Related Stories

• OSCE PA human rights committee Chair Ignacio Sanchez Amor follows up on developments in Turkey
• Assembly’s work on migration presented to OSCE ambassadors by Ad Hoc Committee Chair Lombardi at special Permanent Council
• Christine Muttonen of Austria elected OSCE PA President, Vice-Presidents and Committee Officers also elected

VIENNA, 20 July 2016 – Presenting the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s work concerning the refugee and migrant crisis at a special meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna today, Swiss parliamentarian Filippo Lombardi laid out the Assembly’s plan of action going forward, which includes monitoring the situation on the ground and developing policy recommendations for the OSCE and its participating States.

The meeting was convened by the OSCE German Chairmanship to present and discuss the report by Amb. Claude Wild, Chair of the OSCE Informal Working Group Focusing on the Issue of Migration and Refugee Flows. The participants discussed in particular the importance of improving global migration governance and how the OSCE can lend its contribution to promoting regional implementation of a global migration governance architecture.

Lombardi noted that the OSCE PA’s Ad Hoc Committee on Migration, which he chairs, has been active in three main areas, including by organizing field visits, strengthening co-operation with the OSCE and other international actors, and promoting discussions on the migration crisis within the OSCE PA.

“The migration and refugee crisis remains high on the agenda of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly as highlighted by the importance accorded to this issue in the Tbilisi Declaration adopted at the OSCE PA Annual Session on 5 July,” Lombardi said. “Indeed, the various aspects of this complex issue are addressed in the resolutions of all three general committees as well as in a number of supplementary resolutions” adopted in Tbilisi, he added.

Stressing the need for better communication strategies between governments and the public, Lombardi said that while media plays a fundamental role in shaping public opinion on migration, “political forces bear an equally important responsibility.

“Governments, diplomats and parliamentarians must join forces to tackle the root causes of migration,” he said.

Lombardi further highlighted a recent field visit to camps in Calais and Dunkirk, the Parliamentary Assembly’s contribution to the 27 June meeting of the Informal Working Group, which was addressed by five OSCE parliamentarians, and noted that the PA’s Ad Hoc Committee on Migration met officially for the first timeduring the OSCE PA Annual Session in Tbilisi on 3 July.

In June, the OSCE PA’s then-human rights and humanitarian committee chair, Portuguese parliamentarian Isabel Santos, joined a delegation of the OSCE’s Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, Ambassador Madina Jarbussynova, for a visit to Lampedusa, Italy, to an aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean Sea, and to a refugee reception centre in Catania.

Migration will also occupy a prominent position in the discussions of the OSCE PA Autumn Meeting to be held in Skopje from 29 September to 2 October, Lombardi pointed out.

Other than Lombardi’s presentation, today’s special meeting of the Permanent Council included a comprehensive report by Amb. Wild, who noted that addressing the migration crisis requires a multidimensional response based on protection, combating crime, border management, successful integration, and solidarity and partnerships. The OSCE has a number of comparative advantages when addressing migration and refugee flows and is thus uniquely positioned to address this crisis, he emphasized.

Lombardi welcomed the priorities of the OSCE’s Informal Working Group and stressed that members of the PA’s Ad Hoc Committee have agreed to keep in mind the principles identified by this body in carrying out its work.

The Permanent Council and the Ministerial Council are the primary decision-making bodies of the OSCE.

To learn more about the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s work in the field of migration, please click here. A video interview conducted with Ad Hoc Committee Chair Filippo Lombardi is available on the OSCE PA’sYouTube channel.

Related Stories

• Christine Muttonen of Austria elected OSCE PA President, Vice-Presidents and Committee Officers also elected
• OSCE parliamentarians in Tbilisi adopt wide-ranging Declaration on human rights, security and the environment
• OSCE parliamentarians consider resolutions on security, economic and environmental concerns and human rights

COPENHAGEN, 25 July 2016 – In response to the measures taken by the Turkish authorities following the attempted coup, Ignacio Sanchez Amor (MP, Spain), Chairperson of the OSCE PA Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions, issued the following statement today:

“I remain concerned by the developments which have been taking place in Turkey since the attempted coup, as expressed in an earlier statement. As I joined the rest of the international community in offering strong support to the restoration of constitutional order, I also warned against reprisals and hasty purges and underscored the need to safeguard democratic institutions.

“Unfortunately, the sudden dismissal of thousands of judges, prosecutors, academics, and journalists across the country has challenged human rights standards, due process, the right to a fair trial, and freedom of expression. As underlined by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), and the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Turkey’s response to these unconstitutional events should seek to reinforce, not undermine, the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary, and media freedom.

“I once again call on the Turkish authorities to follow a responsible approach to ensure that the constitutional order is reinforced through the respect of human rights and the independence of democratic institutions in line with OSCE commitments.”

Related Stories

• Christine Muttonen of Austria elected OSCE PA President, Vice-Presidents and Committee Officers also elected
• Assembly’s work on migration presented to OSCE ambassadors by Ad Hoc Committee Chair Lombardi at special Permanent Council
• OSCE PA human rights committee Chair Ignacio Sanchez Amor issues statement on developments in Turkey

WARSAW / BUCHAREST, 2 August 2016 – Michael Georg Link, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and Ambassador Mihnea Constantinescu, Chair of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), called today for greater efforts to protect endangered memorial sites related to the Roma and Sinti genocide during World War II.

Speaking on the occasion of the commemoration of the liquidation of the “Gypsy family camp” at Auschwitz-Birkenau in 1944, when the close to 3,000 remaining Roma and Sinti in the camp were murdered, they stressed that states have to do more to demonstrate their sincere and strong commitment to education about and remembrance of the genocide.

“Positively, we have seen increasing attention in recent years on the part of OSCE participating States to commemorate the Roma and Sinti genocide, and to educate people about this horrible event. This practice and these experiences should be widely shared and replicated,” Director Link said. “Promoting understanding of the Holocaust and its effect on different communities can help to create empathy and promote equality and non-discrimination for all.”

“Accurate and ethical education about the Holocaust includes the respectful and dignified preservation of memorial sites,” said Ambassador Constantinescu. “States have to take resolute action to protect endangered memorial sites and continue to do more to commemorate the Roma and Sinti victims. The history of these endangered sites should be included as part of broader efforts to educate about the consequences of indifference to racism.”

They called on governments to ensure that endangered memorial sites for Roma and Sinti victims are preserved and protected, to include this history as an integral part of civic and human rights education in their countries. They stressed that current developments, including a disturbing rise in xenophobic public rhetoric and racism, mean it is even more essential to build strong alliances among different communities.

In 2003, with the Action Plan on Improving the Situation of Roma and Sinti within the OSCE Area, the OSCE participating States committed themselves to strengthen education about the Roma and Sinti genocide. Through its Contact Point for Roma and Sinti Issues, ODIHR promotes knowledge about and recognition of the plight of Roma and Sinti during the Holocaust to counter present-day discrimination and racism, and to promote tolerance. According to ODIHR’s recent publication Teaching about and Commemorating the Roma and Sinti Genocide: Practices within the OSCE Area, seven OSCE participating States officially commemorate the Roma and Sinti genocide on 2 August, while a larger number of states commemorate the Roma and Sinti victims on the International Holocaust Memorial Day, 27 January.

The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance is an inter-governmental organization and the foremost international network of political leaders and professionals advancing and shaping Holocaust education, remembrance and research. Its 31 member countries are committed to the tenets of the Stockholm Declaration. The IHRA Committee on the Genocide of the Roma aims to increase the commitment of IHRA Member Countries to educate, research and commemorate the genocide of the Roma.

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• After violent attempted coup, Turkish authorities must strengthen, not weaken, rule of law and independence of judiciary, says ODIHR Director Link
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A week-long regional summer school on multilingual and multicultural education was held from 10 July to 16 July 2016 in Cholponata in Kyrgyzstan - the fifth regional summer school organized as part of the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities’ (HCNM) Central Asia Education Programme.

Organized by the HCNM in co-operation with Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Education and Science, UNICEF and the Office of the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights in Kyrgyzstan, the summer school brought together 86 participants representing education institutions of the Central Asian States and of the wider region, including teacher trainers, methodological experts, university and pilot school managers and teachers, as well as international experts.

The summer school was aimed at providing practical expert support to further develop the capacity of education authorities and practitioners within multilingual and multicultural education.

Opening the summer school, Deputy Minister of Education of Kyrgyzstan Toktobubu Ashymbaeva highlighted the important role of the teacher in multilingual education programmes.

During the week, participants discussed pre-service and in-service teacher training, as well as facilitating the implementation of multilingual education programmes. Participants also developed training materials aimed at monitoring and evaluating multilingual and multicultural education programmes. As a result, eleven thematic materials were developed with the aim to further adapt them for practical use within the education institutions of the region.

Flera Saifulina, Head of the National Education Department of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Tatarstan in the Russian Federation, found that the diverse forms of activities enabled participants to express their opinions, raise concerns and receive comprehensive answers from fellow experts. She also expressed satisfaction to see how education is used for the integration of societies in the Central Asian countries.

Tatiana Aderikhina, Co-ordinator of Education and Child Protection Issues at UNICEF Kazakhstan, said: “I am glad that the cooperation between HCNM and UNICEF Kyrgyzstan continues as it brings synergies and benefits the target country.”

Zaiyrbek Ergeshev, representative of the Department of the Ethnic and Religious Issues of the Presidential Administration of Kyrgyzstan, concluded that multilingual and multicultural education is an important factor for forming a civic identity.

Since 2012, the High Commissioner has been implementing the Central Asia Education Programme, aimed at promoting multilingual and multicultural education and developing bilateral and multilateral co‑operation in the region to improve the education of national minorities and promote the integration of society.

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JAJCE, 19 July 2016 – The recent decision of the Central Bosnian Canton Assembly to divide the secondary school in Jajce, despite court decisions and students’ protests, was the main focus of discussions held today by representatives of the international community in BiH, including the Office of the High Representative, the French Embassy and the USAID Mission Director, who joined the Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH, Ambassador Jonathan Moore, in meetings with Jajce municipal authorities and civil society. 

Ambassador Moore condemned the decision by the Cantonal Assembly to divide the students against their will. “The children of Bosnia and Herzegovina deserve the best conditions for inclusive, quality education.  The creation of yet another case of ‘two schools under one roof’ is a move in exactly the wrong direction, and is not the way to solve other questions such as questions of curriculum or educational certificates.  Practice has shown that administrative unification of divided schools improves conditions for learning and saves scarce resources.  The Canton cannot afford the schools it has now.  We should respect both principles of inclusion and the will of the students.  Local authorities in Jajce should withdraw their request, and cantonal authorities should not implement this mistaken decision,” said Ambassador Moore.

“The recent demonstrations we have seen show that children in Jajce do not want to be divided.  In this, they have our admiration and support. OHR joins the call for authorities of the Central Bosnia Canton to rethink the decision to form a new school in Jajce, and instead refocus their efforts to find solutions to problems in the education sector without endangering the multi-ethnic character of Jajce and the Central Bosnia Canton, “ said Michael Doyle, attending the visit on behalf of the High Representative Valentin Inzko.

“The unity and strength of France are mirrored in the existence of unified schools for all children. As friends of this country, we the French people want to see the same values and principles to be implemented in BiH. I would like to congratulate the Jajce students for their fight and collective spirit”, said Donato Guiliani, cultural counsellor of the French Embassy and director of the French Institute in BiH.

This is the third OSCE-organized visit of international community members to schools and communities in BiH.

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• OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina facilitates visit to National Museum for children from Zepce and Maglaj
• Special Representative of OSCE Chairmanship-in-Office on Gender Issues Verveer to visit Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1 to 4 July