Dr. Louesa Polyzoi
Dr. Louesa Polyzoi, University of Winnipeg Education/Developmental Studies professor, will be speaking at the next Brown Bag Research Lecture on June 7, 2004 from 12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. in Room 3C01.
She will present highlights of a major CIDA project,Russian Teacher Training for At-Risk Students, funded by the University of Calgary-Gorbachev Foundation. The three-year project was launched in 2002 through partnership with the Russian Academy for Advanced Professional Standards and Teacher Training (under the Minister of Education for the Russian Federation).
In her own words, here’s a synopsis of what Dr. Polyzoi will be discussing:
Economic restructuring and the transition to a market economy have been challenging for Russia since the dissolution of the Union; declining productivity and inflation have resulted in increased social costs particularly for vulnerable groups – especially children. The increase in family breakdown, a growing incidence of youth in care, and escalating numbers of “street” children have prompted the Russian government to consider new approaches for responding to the needs of its at-risk children and youth.
The main objectives of this project are to:
- provide training to Russian teachers, administrators, psychologists, curriculum specialists, diagnosticians, and university faculty in the area of talent development among at-risk children and youth
- examine the impact of this training on educational practice in selected schools in Moscow and St. Petersburg
- develop professional educational materials to be made available to regional educational offices throughout Russia
- suggest policy recommendations, in collaboration with our Russian partner, that would encourage new directions in the education of at-risk children and youth in Russia
