KROSSS

My name is John Rullestad and I am one of the organisers of the course.

I live in Skudeneshavn on the island of Karmoy in Western Norway. Please take a look at some nice pictures from Norways' smallest town: www.skudeneshavn.com

I work as head of The Educational Advisory Service (Pedagogisk Psykologisk Senter) in Karmoy servicing 23 primary schools, six secondary schools and one Adult Educational Centre with a total of 6000 pupils and around 600 teachers. I have teaching and administrative experience from secondary school. One of my responsibilities now is international projects, of which our authority has been involved in more than 40 since 1996.

I was born in Cardiff, Wales, but have lived all my life in Norway, but been back to Wales many times. Being Welsh born I of course support teams from Wales in soccer, rugby and cricket. I was a soccer coach for nearly 25 years for different teams in the Norwegian 1st, 2nd and 3rd div., but have stopped now as I am so very much involved in educational work in our schools as well as in the many international projects we are taking part in.

In my spare time I head the steering committee of Skudefestivalen, a yearly 5-day-event the first week of July each year when more than 600 boats and 30 000 people visit our town to participate at this coastal culture festival which focuses on old and new boats, art exhibitions, craftwork and music of a varied mixture (Irish, blues, trad jazz, shanties, middle-of the road pop etc.) English text about our festival is on the Web: http://www.skudefestivalen.no/engelsk.htm

Looking forward to meeting you all in London in October
best wishes
John

My name is Randi Clausen Jøsang,

I am an Educational Advisor at PPS Karmøy. I am born in Karmøy and have lived here most of my life, but I moved to the northern part of Norway, to Tromsø, to study at the university there in 1993. When I had finished studying I moved back to Karmøy. I am a sociologist , specializing in multicultural understanding.

I am one of the organizers of this course and one of the participants in the KROSSS project.

Looking forward to meet you!!
Best wishes Randi Clausen Jøsang
Educational Adviser
PPS – Karmøy
Phone: 0047 52 81 14 73
e-mail: randi@karmoyped.no

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Lakhbir Bhandal I am the lead Director of The Change Institute’s policy and action research practice- I am an experienced consultant and research director, with extensive experience of utilising innovative evaluative and theoretical research tools for a range of client assignments at local, national and EU level.

In addition to this I have delivered a broad range of consultancy services to charitable, public and private sector organisations at local, regional, national and international levels. My work has included the design and delivery of staff development programmes, evaluation and investigative research, communication and recruitment campaigns, policy development and guidance, and structural development initiatives.

Asad Ahmad has been working, since 1977, with different aspects of school education of bilingual pupils. First as a bilingual teacher and later on as Pedagogical Adviser. An important aspects of this work was developing courses in areas such as Ressources in Diversity with special emphasis on the influence of generalisations, prejudices and racist attitudes in cross cultural dialogue. Another aspect of this work was and still is, assissting in resolving conflicts between schools and parents. As a consequense the emphasis of Asad Ahmad's work shifted more in the direction of conflict resolution in cross cultural encounters, both in Denmark and in Comenius projects he has been involved in. This emphasis on conflict resolution resulted in a position as Educational Coordinator, from 2003 - 2006, at The Danish Centre for Conflict Resolution where Asad Ahmad developed, together with two of his colleagues, a three week course in cross cultural conflicts focussing on conflicts involving values, norms and traditions. During the last few years Asad Ahmad has been involved in EU-project doing research in the area of violent radicalization with special emphasis on preventive approaches. There were four countries involved in the initial research project that was coordinated by the Change Institute in London. Due to his involvement in research in this area Asad Ahmad is now a member of an expert network, within the EU, on radicalization.

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Gert Larsen Head of the Pedagogic Centre of Albertslund in Denmark. PÃœdagogisk Center Albertslund (PCA) is a regional Teachers Learning and Resource Centre for the municipality of Albertslund in Denmark. PCA supports pedagogic development through courses and in-service training for teachers, and by making pedagogic expertise available to local schools and teachers. Schools and preschool staff in need of advice and instruction can apply for guidance from Pedagogic personnel and advisers attached to the centre.

I have prepared and organized courses, conferences and projects at local, national and international level. Have particpated in and chaired many international projects from the Comenius, Minerva and Grundtvig catalog.

My name is Will Hammonds and I am a researcher with the Change Institute since 2005. I undertake research for British and European projects on areas related to integration and multiculturalism. I have recently worked on a project looking at human rights education around Europe. Other examples include the Intercultool project that looks at the skills and competencies that people need and use when they are working in intercultural settings.

I live in London having moved here to study 8 years ago. I am originally from a town called Shrewsbury that is in the west of England. I am one of the organisers of the course and hope that you will find it a stimulating and enjoyable week.

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My name is Louise Sjøgren, I’m an adviser at PCA (A regional Teachers Learning and Resource Centre for the municipality of Albertslund, Denmark). I’m the coordinator of the environmental system EMAS (Eco Management and Audit Scheme) in the department of children and young people. I advice in relation to environmental topics, pedagogic development and teaching – At work my colleges calls me The Green Lady in Albertslund.

I live in Copenhagen with my husband and our two boys at 4 and 6 years old. I’m interest in all kind of sports, especially basketball which I have been playing since I was 10 years old. Besides having played basketball and been a coach, I have a bachelor degree in physical education and a master in general education.

I look forward to meet all of you in London.