Intercity Meeting Saturday June 8th, 2013

Opening of the event, Moderator Mårten Kvist, Turku Sirkkala Rotaryclub

President's Welcome, President Alpo Rajaniemi, Turku Sirkkala Rotaryclub

Governor's Welcome, DG Berndt von Veh, Rotary District 1410

Hannu Takkula, Member of European Parliament, Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, Suomen Keskusta: Early intervention is essential in exclusion prevention

Hannu Takkula is a Finnish member of the European Parliament (2004 - ). His work focuses mainly on the areas of Education, Culture, Sports, Foreign Relations and Research & Innovation. He is a member of the ALDE group (Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe) and the Finnish Centre Party.

Before attending university, Hannu studied music at the Tampere Conservatory and majored in singing. In 1993 he graduated with a Master of Education from the University of Lapland, going on to teach at Anetjärvi comprehensive school in 1992-1995. Hannu was then elected to the Finnish Parliament and acted as a member on the Education and Culture Committee, Environment Committee and Foreign Affairs Committee until 2004.

Presently, Mr Takkula is the coordinator for his group, ALDE, in the European Parliament Committee on Culture and Education, a member of the EP Delegations to Israel and to Australia & New Zealand, a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean as well as a substitute member in the Committee for Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE).

Abstract: EARLY INTERVENTION IS ESSENTIAL IN EXCLUSION PREVENTION

Early intervention in child and adolescent problems is the most important way to prevent social exclusion. Consequently, the role of the teacher is essential in dealing with these issues.

There is much discussion about early intervention, but insufficient real action. Calculations are produced about the direct costs of the needed support for children and youth, and action is postponed for reasons of supposed thrift. Intervention at the point of the first indication of disturbance is, however, much cheaper than later caring for the more complex problems and their consequences which evolve as a consequence of neglect.

Groups that are small enough to allow for individual adult - child contact in child care and school are a precondition for success in education. The teacher is then able to help children individually as needed.

In early childhood education as well as in elementary school, small group sizes provide significant savings in the long run, because they offer the staff in day-care centers and schools the opportunity to intervene in the life of a disturbed child in a constructive way at a stage when it can still make a difference.

Although exclusion often begins in childhood, adolescence is also a crucial stage. It is worrying that the vocational and higher education programs offered are often based on outdated information about the working environment: Education reflects old economic structures, and young people graduate into careers no longer needed in the modern world.

The risk of exclusion is real when young people spend months and even years after the completion of their studies without access to a job in line with the training they have acquired because no such jobs are available. Education providers should understand that one of their key tasks is to ensure that the qualifications they offer are in line with current needs.A

Professor Sanna Salanterä, University of Turku, Finland: Preventing and intervening social exclusion

Sanna Salanterä is Professor of Clinical Nursing Science at the University of Turku, Finland. She also holds a part-time position of Head Nurse at the Hospital District of South West Finland. She is a registered nurse and public health nurse from her background. Her research areas are clinical decision-making and knowledge management, empowering patient education and children's nursing. She has about 150 scientific publications and extensive teaching experience in Nursing Science in graduate and postgraduate level both nationally and internationally. She is head of the scientific committee and member of the board of European Academy of Nursing Science. Slides in pdf-file from this link.

Roundtable Discussion

Lunch, Radisson Blu Marina Palace