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FACING THE CHALLENGES OF GLOBALISATION: INTERNATIONAL STUDY CIRCLES
HANDBOOK FOR STUDY CIRCLE FACILITATORS

INTRODUCTION:
THE INTERNATIONAL STUDY CIRCLE PROJECT

You have all been selected as study circle facilitators in the International Study Circle Project. The project is a joint initiative of the European Workers' Education Association (Euro-WEA) and the International Federation of Workers' Education Associations (IFWEA). The main aim of the International Study Circle Project is to develop a global education programme which addresses issues concerning political, economic and cultural globalisation. Using the Internet as a tool for communication between countries, we aim to build a common understanding of these issues and a common course of action.

At a seminar held in Seville in June 1997 for study circle facilitators, decisions concerning the course curriculum, methodology and education materials were made for the pilot programme. The seminar set the parameters in which each country will work.

This handbook is mean to help and guide you when you are doing this important education work. It was originally compiled by the Kenyan Women Workers' Organisation and has been adapted for the purposes of our project.

WHAT IS A STUDY CIRCLE?
Study Circles have been used by workers' education bodies around the world. They can be defined as a form of group study to encourage and build collective learning. The learning process proceeds in an atmosphere of co-operation. People help each other by making use of the experiences possessed by the various members of the study circle. It is the study circle members who decide how their studies are to be arranged and directed in relation to their own needs. Study circles therefore are participatory and under the democratic control of the learners themselves.

Study Circles can deal with a wide range of subjects. Study Circles generally have a small membership, usually composed of between five and ten people. All of the members take part voluntarily. In study circle education, the common search for knowledge is important. There are no formal qualifications as a result of the course.

General aims of study circle education:

• to improve the knowledge and ability of members
• to stimulate independent thinking
• to share experiences with others in a spirit of respect and tolerance towards different opinions
• to develop a sense of solidarity
• to appreciate democratic values
• to educate for action in trade unions and other organisations in society

Study circle methods:
If a study circle is to be successful then:

• everybody shall feel that he/she belongs to the group
• everybody is accepted by the group
• everyone is active
• different ideas and opinions shall be respected
• the facilitator is a comrade and equal with the rest
• responsibility shall be shared by the members
• problems and other joint affairs shall be settled between the group members
• collaboration shall be encouraged at all times
• talks, discussion and analysis shall characterise the work results should be evaluated together

INTERNATIONAL STUDY CIRCLES
Most study circles take place on a local or national level. We are trying something new by setting up a study circle which is international. Our vision of an international study circle is to organise small groups of learners, based in several countries, who work according to a common curriculum, set of materials and education method. Between meetings, each group has access to materials on the Internet and the results of discussions completed in previous sessions by other study circles in the project. The Internet is an important tool in helping learners to share their discussions with learners in other countries.

In addition to the general aims of study circle education, the international study circle project aims:

• to develop a global education programme
• to reach a common understanding of the effects of globalisation on local communities and workplaces
• to build international links and solidarity
• to identify common international strategies and activities in response to the effects of globalisation
• to strengthen links and joint activities between trade unions and community-based organisations
• to explore the use of the Internet as a tool for international communication

In the International Study Circle Project, we aim to build on the democratic methodology of study circle education. However, there are a few differences in our project which will shape how we approach the running of study circles. A central aim of the project is to stimulate thinking and action on an international level. Therefore our education programme has a strong international focus. The study circles in each country are informed by local needs and allow for grassroots participation in the preparation and delivery of the course. But we also need to maintain an international coherence and ensure that each country is involved in a common process. The study circle facilitators are central to maintaining this balance.

The focus of our international study circle is on transnational corporations. Since the activities of transnational corporations are complex and largely concealed, members of study circles will not be able to discuss and understand issues solely based on their own experiences. Therefore there is a need for the facilitator to play a key role in providing new information whether in the form of presentations, readings or other means.

THE STUDY CIRCLE FACILITATOR
As a study circle facilitator it is your responsibility to assist the members of the study circle in several different ways. At the Seville seminar, we identified the following guidelines which should inform your role as study circle facilitators:

• to take responsibility for the co-ordination of the study circle in your country, including arranging for all its practical needs
• to organise the recruitment of study circle members
• to convene the study circle meetings and facilitate the education programme in line with the project's general purpose and methodology to download the education materials from the Internet, and where necessary introduce additional materials which contextualise the issues locally
• to write up the discussions of the study circle and make them available on the project's web-site
• to download the discussions of other study circles from the web-site and integrate them into your study circle's sessions
• to assist with the translation of education materials into local languages, if appropriate
• to oversee the financial management of your local study circle
• to compile a national report evaluating the study circle in your country
• to attend international planning and evaluation meetings of the project
• to liaise with the International Study Circle Project Co-ordinator
• The role of a study circle facilitator towards other study circle members is not to be confused with a conventional teacher. Your responsibility is to lead and stimulate discussions but not to instruct.
• The study circle facilitator helps the work of the group by:
• making sure that everybody in the group is active, has an equal chance to learn and that his/her ideas are respected
• making sure that everybody understands the study objectives which the group has agreed upon
• preparing for each session
• presenting issues and problems
• summarising discussions
• supplying the group with additional information
• keeping the discussion moving
• making notes of the key points raised during study circle discussions
• checking that work agreed to at the previous session has been undertaken
• ensuring that each session is evaluated, using the form provided
• introducing work which study circle members will be undertaking before the next session

Organising your study circle:
As a facilitator, your tasks are to:

• plan the recruitment process
• approach trade unions and/or community-based organisations regarding their participation in the study circle
• arrange the necessary facilities for the study circle
• familiarise yourself with the education materials, and have them translated (if necessary) into local languages. Collect any additional information which might be necessary for your local group
• familiarise yourself with the resources for the study circle including the project web-site
• set the date for the first meeting of the study circle
• It is also important to always in keep in touch with your organisation, the facilitators of the study circles in different countries and the co-ordinator of the International Study Circle Project. If there are problems in your study circle, they can advise you how to deal with the problems.

THE FIRST MEETING IN YOUR STUDY CIRCLE
Introductions:
It is advisable to conduct the introduction of the members in a way that they get to know each other in a relaxed manner. In the education materials, there are games suggested which will help you do this.

It is important that the group collectively gets to know:

• the interests of each member of the study circle
• what their expectations are of the study circle
• how they would like to use the knowledge they acquire
• what they expect of you as a facilitator
• what previous education they have had on transnational corporations

With this understanding as a base, the group can decide how to use the study materials provided.

The Study Circle Method:
After the introduction of yourselves, it is time to introduce the study circle method.
You need to highlight that:

• The study circle method means that there are no teachers, and no lectures, but a group of comrades with a common interest in the issue of transnational corporations.
• The members have come together to learn in an atmosphere of co-operation and understanding.
• For the study circle method to succeed, we need the contribution from each and everyone in the group.

The Study Material:
We expect the members to participate fully from the first to the last meeting, and therefore they need to understand and discuss the course outline. It is very important to stress that the success of the study circle relies on the same people coming each week. It is not possible for an organisation to send different people to each session.

Start by looking at the course outline and saying something about the way the course is organised. You need to highlight:

• that to enable the group to have meaningful discussions, there will be "homework" between sessions. Find out how much time the members can give to the course between sessions.
• that in each session we will be looking at the discussions from the study circles in other countries which will be downloaded by the facilitator from the project's web-site.
• that the discussions from each session will be written up by the facilitator and put onto the project's web-site so that the other groups can access them.
• that each session will be evaluated, and then Session 8 will evaluate the course as a whole
• that each session is short and designed to take place in two hours. Find out if this it convenient for members.
• It is important to then look at the content of the course and the focus of each session. You need to highlight:
• that the content addresses issues relevant to trade unionists and community-based activists. Find out what the special interests and needs are of the study group, and what experiences members already have of transnational corporations.
• that the course is action-orientated and designed to help members plan and discuss strategies in response to transnational corporations.
• that it will be possible to provide members with additional materials if they are interested in a particular area. Encourage members to bring any materials or documents relevant to the course topic.

Practical Details:
Discuss what to do about breaks, smoking, refreshments etc. Find out if the day, time and the place for the study circle is convenient for everybody.

EVALUATION OF THE COURSE
Evaluation of the study circles is very important. By evaluating we get a better picture of how the method is working. Each session will be evaluated by members using the form provided. It is also important that as a facilitator, you evaluate each session which can then feed into a national report at the end of the course. The national reports will be synthesised into an international report which will inform the running of the second pilot programme due to take place in March/April 1998.

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