The document outlines the agenda for the first meeting of the Comenius project "U-Knight-Europe" taking place from October 5-9, 2011 in Finland. The schedule includes visits to schools, organizations, and museums focused on education and special needs. Participants will discuss differences in school systems, strategies to increase student self-esteem, and examples of entrepreneurship in the region. The goal is for teachers to gain inspiration for their own schools and continue collaboration on the Comenius project.

1. U-KNIGHT-EUROPE<br />1ST COMENIUS MEETING <br />5th - 9th October 2011, FINLAND<br />AGENDA<br />Sundby skola invites all partners and associated partners in the Comenius project ”U-Knight-Europe” to the first meeting in our project. Sundby is in the municipality of Pedersöre between the cities Jakobstad/Pietarsaari and Karleby/Kokkola. The gathering will take place from 5th - 9th October 2011.<br />The program during the days is as follows:<br />WEDNESDAY 5th<br />9-11 amA first gathering at the Town Hall with presentation of the municipality and the school system in Pedersöre given by the Mayor and the Education Director. We will also give a presentation of the laws governing how we treat children with special needs in Finland<br />11-12School lunch at Ytteresse skola <br />12-4 pmFirst we vill visit the special kindergarten “Snäckan” which is specialized helping children with special needs from age 3-7. Helping children with hearing disabilities is one of their areas of great skill. These children are fully integrated together with children without special needs. After that we will visit Ytteresse skola a normal school with 170 pupils, but in the same time a school specialized in taking care of children with hearing disabilities.<br />We will also visit Jungmans skola in Jakobstad who are specialized in taking care of children with more demanding needs and handicaps.<br />7-9 pmEvening meal and gathering of the whole group at Hotel Polaris. Presentations of ourselves and the schools from all participating countries<br />THURSDAY 6th<br />9-11 amPresentation and discussion of our project. We will also discuss the differences in our school systems and the different strengths and weaknesses they have concerning our ability of becoming Contemporary Knights for our pupils<br />11.30Lunch in Edsevö skola which is two schools in one. Both Swedish- and finnishspeaking kids share the same school and have lessons together in each others languages<br />12.30-4 pm.We will visit Sundby skola and Bäckby skola who are partner and associated partner schools in this project<br />6-8 pmWe will visit the Arctic Museum “Nanoq” in Jakobstad where we will meet the founder of the museum the arctic explorer Pentti Kronqvist. He will present the unique artifacts in the museum and tell about his expediencies during his 12 arctic expeditions. The whole museum is built using only voluntary workers. <br />FRIDAY 7th<br />9-12 amContinuation of the preparations for the rest of the project. Sundby skola will present what they have done to arise the pupils self esteem and increase the pupils joy in their process of learning valuable skills. We will watch movies they’ve made during their work and discuss what could be done in our different schools with the starting point in inspiration received from Sundby skolas successful projects.<br />12Lunch<br />1-4 pmPresentation of the multifaceted entrepreneurship which is typical for this area in Finland. We will visit Baltic Yacht who build the world famous Swan Boats/Sailing ships and also visit Alholmens Kraft which is the largest bio-fuelled power plant in the world to show how we take care of our vaste here in Finland.<br />7pm-1 amA big gathering for the teachers in the municipality where we all will meet and take part of Finnish food and culture. You will also present yourself and your countries and the whole Comenius project as an inspiration for others to start to interact too.<br />SATURDAY 8th<br />10 am-6 pmA visit to the city of Vasa/Vaasa. We will visit the University of Åbo Akademi who educates all the swedishspeaking teachers in Finland. We will get a presentation of the teacher educating system in Finland by Professor Sven-Erik Hansén who is also an expert in what differs in different countries educating systems. We will also visit Evangeliska Folkhögskolan I Österbotten. That kind of school is typically Scandinavian and this school also is making a big effort helping immigrants to learn the language and Finnish culture.<br />8-10 pmLast meal together with discussions and conclusions<br />SUNDAY 9th<br />Last meeting and the day for travelling home<br />Sundby 29th August<br />Tore Jungerstam, Sundby skola<br />