Međunarodni dan studenata već se više od 80 godina obilježava 17. studenog.

 

Povijest ovog dana počinje nacističkom okupacijom Češke, 28. listopada 1939. godine. U Pragu su studenti i njihovi profesori prosvjedovali kako bi obilježili godišnjicu formiranja Čehoslovačke. Okupacijske trupe prekinule su prosvjed, a čak i ustrijelile studenta medicine Jana Opletala. Jan je odmah operiran u obližnjoj bolnici, ali je umro od upale potrbušnice 11. studenog. Ožalošćeni kolege studenti zatražili su odobrenje za sprovodnu procesiju 15. studenog kroz centar Praga, a odobrila ju je vlast protektorata. Ta se procesija pretvorila u protest na kojem su deseci prosvjednika uhićeni. Zbog nereda koji su pretvorili memorijalnu povorku u prosvjed protiv nacističkih snaga, njemačke trupe opkolile su studentske domove 17. studenog ujutro. Toga dana sveučilišta su zatvorena i više od 1200 studenata je uhićeno. Poslani su u koncentracijski logor Sachsenhausen, a potom je bez ikakvog suđenja pogubljeno osam studenata i jedan profesor. Sveučilišta su ostala zatvorena gotovo 5 godina, sve do završetka rata.

Dvije godine kasnije, u Londonu, 1941. godine, održan je međunarodni sastanak studenata koji se bore protiv nacista. Na prijedlog Otta Schilinga iz Čehoslovačke, odlučeno je da se ovaj datum svake godine obilježava kao Međunarodni dan studenata, u čast žrtvama koje su poginule. U današnje vrijeme obilježava ga velik broj sveučilišta kao nepolitičku proslavu multikulturalnosti svojih studenata.

Danas je i dan za obilježavanje studentskog aktivizma. To je također i dan na koji trebamo osvijestiti važnost obrazovanja i koja je njegova uloga za društvo, državu i pojedince. Strukturirano znanje održava napredak čovječanstva.

Obrazovanje je neophodno za muškarce i žene kako bi razumjeli svaki segment života. Ono pomaže u suočavanju s većinom životnih izazova i njihovom premošćivanju, na primjer, u oblikovanju osobnih moralnih vrijednosti, stjecanju zanimanja, učenju kako se uklopiti u društvo i kako se ponašati kao odgovorni građanin. Formalno obrazovanje ne daje nam samo znanje, nego i socijalne vještine, kao na primjer disciplinu i osobnu motivaciju. Ono nam potiče znatiželju i širi nam poglede na svijet i život. Obrazovani ljudi pozorno rade i poboljšavaju svoj društveni status. Te kvalitete mogu pomoći u prepoznavanju vođa zajednice ili pomoći u dobivanju statusa cijenjenog profesionalca. Visoko obrazovanje je alat kojim se pojedinac osnažuje u lokalnoj zajednici i može pomoći svojoj obitelji u budućnosti.

Konkurencija u svijetu je danas velika i visoko obrazovanje postaje neophodno za stjecanje financijske stabilnosti, društvenu prilagodbu i karijeru. Smisao studiranja nije samo dobiti diplomu nakon nekoliko godina. Studenti također uče i neke druge vještine. Uče se kako komunicirati, kako organizirati vrijeme i druge obveze, uče se samostalnosti, radu u grupama, uklapanju u društvo, samoostvarenju, prilagodbi, uče se načinima na koje se mora slijediti pravila i uredbe u društvu.

Dobro poznavanje matematike, kulture, stranog jezika, zakona, medicine ili građevine -  sve to može otvoriti mnoge poslovne prilike. Ako o nečemu nešto ne znamo, moguće je da nikad nećemo ni pomisliti da je možemo naučiti. Zbog toga je visoko obrazovanje tako važno. Posebno zbog toga što manjine i mladi ljudi koji su u teškoj financiskoj situaciji dobivaju državne ili privatne stipendije za visoko obrazovanje, i njihova obitelj ne mora imati nikakva ulaganja.

Za romsku je mladež od velike koristi postati studentima jer im to daje moć kojom mogu potaknuti promjenu načina razmišljanja drugih ljudi. Kad se manjine počnu visoko obrazovati, to je izazovno i mijenja cijeli sustav iznutra zbog toga što su manjine u povijesti bile ugnjetavane i marginalizirane u sustavu visokog obrazovanja. Samo jedno stoljeće prije, u mnogim zemljama ženama nije bilo dozvoljeno da se visoko obrazuju. Prve studentice su se suočavale s ugnjetavanjima. Međutim, one su u isto vrijeme bile svjetionici i inspiracija za nove generacije. Danas ne bi bilo moguće vidjeti pune učionice djevojčica da nije bilo ovih hrabrih začetnica. Sve predrasude se mijenjaju kad učenici započenu interakciju u razredu, ili kad student komunicira s profesorom. Mijenjanje se odvija u oba smjera. Romi koji pohađaju fakultete informiraju kolege i profesore o svom načinu razmišljanja. Kulturna razmjena stvara prostor za suradnju. Onda i drugi studenti počnu dijeliti svoja iskustva i interese u neformalnom dijelu obrazovnog procesa, a Romi počinju pokazivati interes za učenje o drugim kulturama i načinima života. Multikulturalno okruženje na fakultetima ispostavlja se kao ono u kojem svatko od nekog može nešto naučiti.

Prema statističkim podacima, manje od 1% Roma u Europi ima završeno visoko obrazovanje. Ovo je iznimno razočaravajuće. To znači da je manje od 1% Roma spremno prekinuti okrutan krug siromaštva i omogućiti svojoj obitelji ugodan način života, umjesto beskrajnog preživljavanja.

Ranije u povijesti obrazovanje nije bilo toliko dostupno. Danas pak obrazovni sustav svakim danom sve više napreduje i ljudi šire svoje poglede na svijet. Zajednice trebaju više Roma koji bi bili uzori i pokretači promjena. Važno je poboljšati zapošljivost Roma i omogućiti lagan prijelaz sa studija na tržište rada. Postoje razni programi podrške za Rome koji žele studirati, ali si to ne mogu u potpunosti priuštiti ili nemaju sve informacije koje su potrebne za upisivanje i pripreme za ispite. Ovi programi nude konzultacije o tome koji fakultet pohađati ili koje tečajeve. Programi bi mogli pomoći u stjecanju stipendija i financijske pomoći za smještaj u studentske domove, za udžbenike, troškove prijevoza, troškove hrane. Štoviše, programi povezuju Rome s drugim Romima i pomažu s prilagodbom na sve promjene koje im se događaju u životu.

Jedan od takvih programa je i Fond za obrazovanje Roma, koji pruža financijsku pomoć Romima koji studiraju u 16 zemalja (Albanija, Bosna i Hercegovina, Bugarska, Hrvatska, Češka, Mađarska, Kosovo, Moldavija, Crna Gora, Sjeverna Makedonija, Rumunjska, Rusija, Srbija, Slovačka, Turska i Ukrajina). Uz to što pružaju financijsku pomoć, programi stipendiranja uključuju i mentoriranje i podučavanje za studente kako bi se podržalo njihovo obrazovanje. Fond za obrazovanje Roma nudi četiri vrste stipendije temeljene na akademskim postignućima: RMUSP (Roma Memorial University Scholarship Program), RISP (Roma International Scholar Program), LHP (Law and Humanities Program), and RHSP (Roma Health Scholarship Program). Ove stipendije su u funkciji potpore romske studente da postignu prvostupničku, magistarsku ili doktorsku razinu studija.

Više informacija na: https://www.romaeducationfund.org/scholarships-en 

 

https://www.facebook.com/REFCroatia/about/ - Hrvatska Facebook stranica o stipendiranju

 

 

Photo by Shubham Sharan on Unsplash

 

For more than 80 years November 17 has been celebrated as International Student’s Day.

The history of this day starts in the Nazi-occupied Czech Republic on October 28, 1939. In Prague, students and their professors demonstrated to mark the anniversary of the formation of the Czechoslovak state. Occupying troops broke up the demonstration and even shot a medical student - Jan Opletal. Jan was immediately operated at the hospital nearby but died of peritonitis on November 11. On November 15, grieving fellow students requested permission for a funeral procession through Prague’s inner city, which was granted by the protectorate’s government. It turned into a protest where dozens of demonstrators were arrested. Because of the riots which turned the memorial procession into a demonstration against Nazi forces, on November 17, early in the morning, the German troops surrounded the student dormitories. That day, universities were shut down and more than 1200 students were arrested. They were sent to Sachsenhausen concentration camp, then eight students and a professor has been executed without trial. Universities remained closed for almost 5 years until the end of the war.

Two years later, in 1941, an international meeting of students fighting against Nazism was held in London. At the suggestion of Otto Schling from Czechoslovakia, it was decided that in honor of the victims, this date should be celebrated annually as the Students' Day. It is now marked by a number of universities as a nonpolitical celebration of the multiculturalism of their international students.

But today it is the day for commemoration of student activism. It is also the day to remember importance of education and which role it serves for the society, country, and individuals themselves. Structured knowledge keeps the progress of the human race.

Education is essential for both men and women to understand every aspect of life. It helps to face and overcome most of the life challenges like: shaping personal moral values, getting a profession, learning how to integrate into society and how to act as a responsible citizen. Formal education gives not only knowledge but also social skills such as discipline and self-motivation, it reveals curiosity and expands horizons of life perspectives. Educated people work thoughtfully and improve their social status. Such qualities might offer recognition of a good community leader or respected professional. Higher education is a tool to empower in local community and help your family in the future.

Since the world today is extremely competitive – higher education becomes the essential requirement for personal financial stability, social adaptation, and a career. Being a student is not about getting a diploma after a few years of study. Students are also learning so-called soft skills: communication, self-organization and time management, independence, working in teams, social connections, different self-realization ways, adaptation, and how to follow the rules and regulations of the society.

Deep knowledge of something like math, culture, new language, laws, medicine or construction building skills – everything may open opportunity doors which have been unseen before. If you don’t know about something – you may never even think about a possibility to achieve it. That’s why higher education is so important today. Especially when ethnic minorities and young people in difficult financial situations have many national or private grants for getting higher education without investments from their families.

A very important benefit of becoming a student for Roma youth is the power to change other people's mindsets. When ethnic minorities are getting into universities it is also challenging and changing the entire system from the inside, because historically minorities have been oppressed and marginalized in the system of higher education. Only a century ago higher education was not even allowed for women in most countries around the world. The first female students were facing oppressions. But they were at the same time beacons and inspiration for the next generations! Seeing classrooms full of girls today would not be possible without these brave pioneers. All the prejudges are changing when people start to interact in person as classmates and in student – professor communication. It is changing both ways. Roma students who went to university informing classmates and teachers about their mindsets. And cultural exchange creates a context for collaboration. Then other students as well sharing their experience and interests in non-formal part of educational process, and Roma students starting to be curious about other cultures and lifestyles. Multicultural environment in university turning out as a win-win situation.

Statistics says that less than 1% of Roma in Europe have completed a higher education qualification. And this is extremely disappointing. It means that less than 1% of Roma are prepared for breaking the vicious circle of poverty and provide a comfortable lifestyle for their families instead of never-ending survival.

In earlier days, there was a lack of education. But today, education systems are growing day by day, and thus, people enlarge their views all over the world. Communities need more Roma role models as actors of change. It is important to enhance Roma youth employability and smooth transition between the completion of studies and entering the labor market. There are different support programs for young Roma who wants to study but couldn’t fully afford it or don’t have all the information for the enrollment process and exams preparations. These programs may offer consultations about universities and different courses. They could help with getting scholarships and financial support for accommodation in a student’s dormitory, textbooks, transportation, and food allowance. Moreover, they connect with other Roma students and help with adaptation to all the changes in life.

One of such programs is the Roma Education Fund Scholarship Program provides financial and academic support to Roma students in 16 countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Hungary, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Turkey and Ukraine). In addition to providing financial aid, the scholarship program incorporates mentoring and tutoring for students to support their education. REF offers four academic merit-based scholarships: Roma Memorial University Scholarship Program (RMUSP), Roma International Scholar Program (RISP), Law and Humanities Program (LHP), and Roma Health Scholarship Program (RHSP). These scholarship schemes support Romani students pursuing Bachelor, Master, and Doctorate degree programs.

Please, visit https://www.romaeducationfund.org/scholarships-en  for more information about scholarships.

 

https://www.facebook.com/REFCroatia/about/ - Croatian Facebook page of the Roma Education Fund.