Bavarian Delegation Visits Elmwood

Representatives from Elmwood College recently met with their Bavarian partners from Autkom and MAS to discuss student exchange opportunities for young people with Autistic Spectrum Disorder.

Following on from a series of meetings regarding future proposals, the partners plan to continue with exchange visits and hope to work towards the development of further opportunities for the students, both in the UK and in Europe.

Bavarian partners, Christine Schulz from autism support specialists, Autkom and Dorothea Heiser, from autism support group, MAS spent a week in Fife discussing future travelling arrangements and are enthusiastic about the prospects of developing the partnership further. They will return next term to help oversee the student exchanges.

Dorothea founded MAS in 2002. That same year, she helped organise an exchange trip for Bavarian students, who visited Fife and Elmwood students, who travelled to Germany.

The partners have also recently applied to UK funding organisation, Grundvig for additional funds to continue with the student exchanges. Grundvig is part of the European Commission's Lifelong Learning Programme.
 
Inclusion Manager, Alison Boyle, said, "We are delighted to be working with our international partners building on the special relationship that was formed back in 2002. Our meetings are key to fulfilling our ongoing commitment to our students and will enable us to hopefully lead to us developing new courses, raise awareness and understanding, break down cultural preconceptions and embrace diversity for people with Autism Spectrum Disorders.”