From March 14 to 16, a group of students from Vienna International School DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusivity, and Belonging) Collaborative took part in the 34th annual CEESA (Central and Eastern European School Association) conference held in Malta. This year's conference centred around the theme "Expanding Horizons: Fostering Inclusive Education through Universal Design for Learning and Technology."
Our students seized the opportunity to share their insights on various topics with educators from across the CEESA region. Anna Bures and Eleonora Yakubova delivered a presentation on understanding identity-based harm, while Nicola Maina and Tariro Chinondo led a discussion on enhancing belonging within educational environments.
The conference facilitated engaging dialogues not only among educators but also with students, reflecting the collaborative spirit of the CEESA community. Monthly meetings leading up to the conference further enriched the exchange of ideas on education in international schools.
Ms. Dzenana Ceman, English and ToK Educator at VIS, and member of the DEIB team, also contributed to the discourse by presenting on raising awareness about the hidden curriculum and its implications. Her presentation was met with enthusiasm by educators eager to delve into the nuances of the hidden curriculum within their own school settings.
Reflecting on their experiences at the conference, the students expressed eagerness to share the valuable insights gained with the VIS community by continuing to host periodic discussions within the DEIB Collaborative, thus providing an opportunity to all students to contribute to ongoing discussions on diversity, equity, inclusivity, and belonging.