Conclusions about European seminar in Riga

As a final event of STRESSLESS project was European seminar held in September 2012 in Riga, Latvia.

Aim of this seminar was:

·        Raise awareness amongst educators of work-related stress in educational institutions;

·        Identify implications for themselves, the organisation and the quality of education;

·        Encourage participants to identify sources of stress within their own workplace;

·        Encourage participants to reflect upon their own development needs in terms of building resilience;

·        Reducing stress for employees and for organisations

·        Provide participants with innovative tools and solutions on how to reduce work-related stress in their lives;

Provide participants with the opportunity to exchange experience and good practices among people coming from different countries working in the same field of occupation.

                                           Evaluations from the trainees and trainers:

From trainers point of view most positive aspects of the workshop were, that:

- The participants were motivated and participated well in all the teaching and learning activities, they were very willing to share their experiences;

- People had possibility to exchange their experience, ways of relaxing, building resilience to stress.

- They learned new ways of dealing with stress;

- There was a lot of positive emotions and support from other participants during all workshop, what is very important for group, because besides theories all gained positive emotional background;

- The venue was of a high standard – light and airy, and well-equipped, and the catering was very good and the social evening at a local restaurants were excellent;

-The course was well organized.

From trainees point of view most positive aspects of the workshop were, that:

-Very professional lectors and good organisation,

- good atmosphiere

- the interest to share experiences of different realities,

-Better insight in the stress problems and the ways to find solutions

- possibility to communicate with trainers and trainees from different Countries,

- balance between theory and practice.

-Different trainers, each for helping see problems from other side.

Most of people stress that there were no negative aspects, but still there were mentioned, that seminar was little bit too long and as English is not native language, sometimes it was necessary that teachers speak more loudly and not in monotomic voice. But trainers mentioned , that trainees not always obeid ground rool to come back from coffee brakes and lunches in time.

From trainers as well as trainees there were suggestions to organise more such seminars with possibility to get new knowledge and enjoy positive emotions and mutual exchange of experience.

Participants of the seminar received a certificate of attendance, the Guidebook and the STRESSLESS DVD with interesting materials.

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