French-speaking cross-border study visit 2023 in Luxembourg

With the support of the Euroguidance Network and in the framework of a cooperation led by the French-speaking cross-border group for guidance, based in the Greater Region and bringing together guidance professionals from Lorraine (France), the Province of Luxembourg (Belgium) and Luxembourg, a study visit was held in Luxembourg on 24 March 2023 on the theme of "Welcoming and guidance of young foreigners".

The working group brings together managers from the information and guidance centres of the Academy of Nancy-Metz, the psycho-medical-social centres of the Belgian Province of Luxembourg and the Maison de l'orientation in Luxembourg.

During cross-border study visits, generally organised every two years, the French-speaking school and vocational guidance practitioners of the Greater Region are invited by the working group to meet in order to discuss a theme that meets the needs identified in the area in terms of guidance. Faced with a new wave of refugees after the conflict in Ukraine, which followed the one caused by the conflicts in the Middle East, and in a region where immigration is traditionally high and where there are frequent transitions between the school systems of the three countries that are only a few dozen kilometers apart, the theme of welcoming and guiding young foreigners was chosen this year as a working subject.

The objective of the study visit is to facilitate the work of guidance practitioners by allowing them to put into perspective the work they carry out in their respective countries within the cross-border region.

The around fifty participants who met this year were able to:

• develop their knowledge about the welcoming and guidance systems for young foreigners in the three border countries
• develop their skills through the presentation and exchange of inspiring local practices.

The study visit offered presentations, exchanges in the form of workshops, as well as an on-site visit of welcome classes in a secondary school (Lycée technique du Centre - annexe Kirchberg). It was punctuated by several convivial networking moments, in the perspective to facilitate meetings and future exchanges between guidance practitioners in the cross-border region.

In the coming weeks, a compendium of existing resources concerning the reception and guidance of young foreigners in each of the regions/countries of the French-speaking cross-border working group for guidance will be drawn up and distributed to the participants.

Original article in French: https://maison-orientation.public.lu/fr/actualites/2023/journee-d-etude-transfrontaliere-francophone-2023.html