News

A pilot emotional intelligence (EI) project with at-risk students is being developed at Kensington Community High School and the Berengarra School at Glen Waverley.

The project aims to develop an intervention program to improve the social, emotional and educational skills of adolescents who have failed to prosper in the mainstream education system, as well as provide professional development training for teachers at the schools.

The project has received more than $63,000 from the William Buckland Foundation and a further $20,000 from the Trust Company Ltd. It will look at the needs of at-risk adolescents who have poor academic achievement, difficulty forming relationships with peers and teachers, poor self-image and problem behaviours - factors that are linked to low satisfaction with school and early school leaving.

"We aim to improve the educational experience of at-risk adolescents and to improve their chances of completing their secondary education," said Dr Karen Hansen from Swinburne's Brain Sciences Institute.

"By developing their EI skills, these students can improve their relationships with others, school engagement and academic achievement.

"We hope that the program will also have a positive effect on other issues relevant to adolescents including conflict resolution, relationships and sexuality, drug education, suicide prevention, racism and bullying."

Swinburne has extensive experience delivering EI development programs that target stress management, leadership, organisational culture, teamwork and emotionally intelligent classroom management to teachers from secondary schools around Australia. These schools recognise the significance of emotionally intelligent teachers and students as being key influences on the development and learning of young people.

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Media Contact: Lea Kivivali, 0410 569 311

19.12.2007

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