TUTOR Mobility in Ireland Hosted by Maynooth University

As part of the TUTOR programme facilitated by Dr. Sinead Matson and Prof. Bernie Grummell with the Department of Adult and Community Education in Maynooth University, five Irish participants went to Athens and collaborated with other partners from Greece, Turkey and Austria. The TUTOR programme focuses on teachers upskilling in inclusive and holistic education, focusing on migrant and ethnic minorities, the LGBTQI+ community and socio-economic disadvantage. We signed up to this course as we are all involved in education and wanted to upskill. The course was interesting and facilitated online on Microsoft Teams and the Maynooth University Moodle platform.  

Each week we explored a new facet of inclusion. We had many meaningful conversations around ethnicity, race, and cultural identity and LGBTQI+ communities. We explored unconscious bias, representation in the curriculum, and the importance of affirming students’ cultural backgrounds. Throughout the course we completed weekly reflections and activities which were key to deepening our learning. These weren’t just academic exercises—they were personal, often emotional explorations of our own assumptions and teaching practices. Some reflections asked us to examine our own privileges; others challenged us to recall moments when we might have missed opportunities to be more inclusive. Sharing these reflections with peers online in breakout rooms built a sense of community and accountability. We weren’t just learning in isolation—we were growing together. More importantly, this course reminded us that creating inclusive classrooms is a continuous journey. As we return to our classrooms this September, we endeavour do so with a renewed commitment to implement what we have learned. It is our duty to make sure that every student feels seen, supported, and inspired to reach their full potential. This CPD course on inclusion provided us with strategies to differentiate instruction, foster a supportive classroom environment, and remove barriers to learning. It has shown us that our students with varying abilities, cultural backgrounds, learning styles and emotional needs all need differentiated instruction. This course encouraged us to use reflective practice, allowing us to examine unconscious biases and adapt our teaching to be more equitable and accessible in the future.  

The TUTOR project then gave us an amazing opportunity to attend a mobility to Greece. We represented Ireland in Athens and we also collaborated with the participants that were representing Austria and Turkey. Viktoria and Thanos from AKMI were our local hosts, they were very friendly and made us feel instantly welcome. Our course in Athens was for a week Monday to Friday 9am to 4.30pm. Each day we had a multitude of workshops and learning experiences in Athens. We had presentations, group discussions and role play scenarios throughout the week. We all met for a group dinner on the first night in a recommended Greek restaurant in Athens. One stand out moment was when we went to the Schedia café, which is a café that offers employment and opportunities to those who have suffered economic disadvantage. The initiative was brave, thoughtful and empowering to so many people who would benefit from this. The requirements to become an employee was that you can boil an egg. It is an inclusive initiative; the counters and tables were low and wide to cater for wheelchair users. All local art is sold and benefits the community and members that Schedia help and support. It is a stepping stone that helps integrate those in need back into society in a safe, positive and rewarding manner.   

The accommodation we stayed in was good, the location suited us, and we were next door to a supermarket. We had private rooms that were clean and comfortable. There was an amazing lunch provided to us each day in the AKMI head office and something to look forward to each day. When we had time off, we strolled through the streets of Athens, went swimming and dined at local restaurants.  

The weather was very hot, we struggled a little in the heat, but it didn’t matter because our group really enjoyed each other’s company, and we had so many laughs and great experiences together. A boat trip around some local islands was a highlight! We also met up with our Austrian friends one evening and we did a night bus tour. If you are interested in the content of this course, we highly recommend you check out the readings and materials on the TUTOR website. Better yet, commit to an Erasmus learning trip, it is never an experience you will regret! We loved every second in Athens, learned so much and hope to go again in the future. Thank you to the TUTOR project for an amazing opportunity and learning experience to remember forever.