Globalization and dynamic transnational migrations are bringing remarkable demographic differences to Europe and the United States. Transnational immigration flows from Eastern Europe, Africa and elsewhere are creating economical and educational inequities that are forcing EU nation- states to reflect on these differences and imagine solutions.
Immigrants bring cultural practices, forms of art, and perspectives on all aspects of human experience that transform and enrich the cultures of host countries. Dichotomies between natives and newcomers emerge, as well as new forms of identities and distinctions between "them" and "us". In addition, schools are not prepared to educate diverse children with varied educational backgrounds and languages.
Societal inequities cannot be understood in isolation but rather need to be understood from a global perspective. This book gathers researchers from across the globe to examine paradigms, policies, and practices for developing an inclusive intercultural and transnational framework to reduce inequities. This is necessary to positively integrate culturally-diverse families, children and adolescents into schools and societies.
Mariella Espinoza-Herold is Researcher and Professor at Northern Arizona University, USA. She has worked for over 33 years in the areas of language and literacy development, educational equity, bilingualism, and optimal program models for speakers of English as an additional language. She has authored books and many research articles in indexed journals in the United States and other international outlets. She has also served as Associate Editor of the National Association for Bilingual Education (NABE) Journal for Research and Practice (NJRP). She has been the recipient of several awards including two Fulbright fellowships that allowed her to investigate educational systems in Japan, China, Scandinavia, and several Western European nations. Rina Manuela Contini holds a PhD in Social Sciences and is an Expert in “Welfare Theories and Social Intervention” in the Department of Management & Business Administration at the University of Chieti-Pescara (Italy), she also has previous experience as a Post-Doctoral Research-Fellow “Al.Fo. Project 2012-2013”. Her research is focused on migration, educational policies, interculturality in multiethnic schools, and immigrants educational achievement. Dr. Contini has participated in many international conferences as a presenter, keynote speaker, and session organizer. She is a member and reviewer for the European Sociological Association and has been a reviewer for the American Educational Research Association.
