Title: Best Practice of Cooperation: Schools, School Ministries and Out-Of-School Organisations – Enemies, Rivals or Partners?
Facilitator and room number: Alexei Medvedev, Mareike Dannies (Schulmentoren); 1.205
Documented by: Annika Reinhold
Number of participants: 8
Who are we and to which institution do we belong?
The Hamburg-based project Schulmentoren (School Mentors) – funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) and the City of Hamburg – is implemented by two institutions: the Hamburg Ministry of School and Vocational Training (BSB) as well as the Coordination Centre for Continuing Education and Employment (KWB), a Hamburg-based non-governmental agency specialized on implementation of projects for different target groups. Our project in a nutshell: The Schulmentoren project (since 2014) aims at development and implementation of mentoring schemes at 33 participating schools and neighborhoods. Project activities include acquisition and training units for parent-to-parent mentors, student-to-student mentors aged between 8 and 18, as well as adult volunteers as mentors for students.
Starting hypothesis:
Cooperation between school ministries and out-of-school organisations is possible.
Sequence of content/methods:
After introducing themselves (schulmentoren.de, Hamburg) Alexei and Mareike did a SWOT analysis of their cooperation model. They finished with a fishbowl discussion on Private Public Partnership Plus (PPP+).
Main arguments presented by the facilitator:
What makes their project unique is that ministry and agency work closely together and share the tasks of implementation. This enables an easier access to schools and additional support. Via the division of roles they are able to deliver a much better and more specified product. A potential weakness is the interdependence of the two partners which is critical when it comes to “chemistry problems” and when the project ends.
Three main points of discussion:
- How could this cooperation principle be implemented in other regions?
- How can one convince funding agencies to support PPP+?
- Are there critical issues about PPP+?
Results of the session:
- This kind of cooperation is really successful and productive, but it may be difficult to implement.
- Funding and the limitedness of the projects are the main challenges.
- Evaluation is really important to continue with funding.
Main statements highlighting the results of the discussion:
- “Everyone can learn his strengths and competencies and we can learn a lot from each other.”
- “So far, we are trying to make the project more sustainable for days of less resources.”
- “To secure funding one can try to involve the schools by showing them benefits when continuing with the project.”
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