Public Lecture: Adaptation of Ukrainian Refugee Students in Schools in Tallinn

This presentation will summarize preliminary findings of an ethnographic study of adaptation of Ukrainian refugee students in schools in Tallinn. Prior research describes the challenges refugee students exposed to war and violence face in adapting to school and identifies school practices that support their learning and well being. Since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Estonian schools have welcomed a large number of Ukrainian refugees. Based on observations of Ukrainian, Estonian, and Russian schools, and interviews with teachers, school administrators, and Ukrainian students and parents, the present study describes the different approaches these schools took to incorporating the refugee students. Findings of this study and learning from Estonia’s experience contribute to the larger literature on school adaptation of refugees.

 
Dina Birman, Ph.D., is a Professor of Educational and Psychological Studies at the University of Miami, and an expert on acculturation and adaptation of immigrants and refugees. She conducted this study as a Fulbright scholar at Tallinn University Baltic Film, Media and Arts School.