First Flight – Student Experiences from Field Research in Barcelona, Spain First Flight – Student Experiences from Field Research in Barcelona, Spain Editor: Aranka Varga Wlislocki Henrik Student College and The Evangelical Lutheran Roma Students College of Pécs Pécs, 2020 The volume was made with the support of the Hungarian Ministry of Home Affairs. Editor: Aranka Varga Authors: Ábel Bereményi, Sámuel Bogdán, Dániel Csonka, Zoltán Gábor Drubina, Ádám Fücsök, Katica Heindl, Rajmund Horváth, Ferenc Józsa, András Kortoczó, Krisztián Kőszegi, Lilla Laboda, Vivien Nagy, István Orsós, Péter Pálmai, Judit Rayman, József Sárközi, Maryama Turay, Aranka Varga, Katalin Vezdén, Zoltán Végh, Zsaklin Zselinszky Reader editor: Gergely Horváth, Kitti Vitéz Translation: Zsófia Tószegi Lectored by: Ferenc Arató, Ábel Bereményi, Julianna Boros, Tibor Cserti Csapó, Erika Csovcsics, Anna Orsós, Boglárka Pápai, János Schaffer, Fanni Trendl, Aranka Varga, Katalin Vezdén Cover photo: Zoltán Gábor Drubina Design and layout: Tibor Noé Kiss ISBN: 978-963-429-573-0 Printed by Bolko-Prints Press (7631, Pécs, Füzes Dűlő 23., Manager: Péter Szabó) Published by Wlislocki Henrik Student College and The Evangelical Lutheran Roma Students College of Pécs Publisher: Andrea Békési List of Contents Aranka Varga: Academic Research in the Roma Student Colleges 7 Ábel Bereményi – Aranka Varga: Notes on the Social Realities and Educational Opportunities of the Roma: A Concptual Framework for Field Research in Spain 15 Sámuel Bogdán: Through a Screen Darkly: Thoughts on Documenting a Researcher’s Fieldwork 35 Péter Pálmai: The Geographical Framework of a Barcelona Field Research 41 Ferenc Józsa: So Keres, La Mina? – The History, Living Conditions, and Challenges of the Roma/Gitanos of Barcelona 45 Zoltán Végh – Zoltán Gábor Drubina – Péter Pálmai – Rajmund Horváth: The „La Mina School Institute” and the Integration of Roma Students 51 Krisztián Kőszegi – Lilla Laboda – Dániel Csonka – Katica Heindl: Comparative Study of NGO Activities Aimed at Reducing Disadvantages 59 Judit Rayman: Notes on the Market Traditions of Gitanos in Barcelona 75 Maryama Turay – Vivien Nagy: Roma NGOs in Barcelona 83 Ádám Fücsök – Zsaklin Zselinszky – József Sárközi – András Kotroczó: The Structure of an Organization in Barcelona: Federation of Roma Associations in Catalonia (FAGiC) 89 Katalin Vezdén – István Orsós: Open University for Sustainable Development – Introducing the Principles and Practices of the University of Barcelona 97 Appendix 1.: University of Pécs from Hungary visited the LA Mina School Institute and Organizations Interested in the Inclusion of Minorities 109 Appendix 2.: Tracing with Pictures. Photo Documentation of the Research in Barcelona Aranka Varga: Academic Research in the Roma Student Colleges aranka varga Academic Research in the Roma Student Colleges Abstract This study provides a framework for the research published in the volume, in which all student papers build on each other creating together a kaleidoscope of a complex research. The study „Equal Opportunities and Inclusion” briefly intro- duces the academic background of this joint endeavor by presenting the two or- ganizations that implemented it, namely the Evangelical Lutheran Roma Student College of Pécs (PERSZE) and the Wlislocki Henrik Roma Student College from the University of Pécs (WHSz). It details the pedagogical approach that helped cultivate and facilitate such a heterogeneous academic community which was based on the principle of cooperation in order to engage in advanced studies. The purpose of this volume is to bring our student authors and their supporting tu- tors closer to the reader as a collaborative academic community while presenting their results, which was based on a one-year-long academic teamwork following their fieldwork in Barcelona. Introduction You are holding an exceptional book in your hands: the first volume of the Evangelical Roma Student College of Pécs, authored primarily by university students. The students’ professors and academic research staff worked with the students as a team, serving as editors and proof- readers for the final publication. The articles in this volume summarize the results of collective research in academic workshops over the period of one year. The research titled “Equal Op- portunities and Inclusion” was initiated by two communities, the Evangelical Lutheran Roma Student College of Pécs (Hungarian name: Pécsi Evangélikus Roma Szakkollégium, acronym: PERSZE) and the Wlislocki Henrik Roma Student College at the University of Pécs (PTE-WHSz). The organizational background of the research communities “The Wlislocki Henrik Roma Student College (WHSz) was founded in 2002 at the University of Pécs with the mission of bringing together students from all faculties of the university who are interested in Romani Studies. Many of our members come from Roma communities and grew 7 First Flight – Student Experiences from Field Research in Barcelona, Spain up in disadvantaged families. Therefore, it is understandable that our students receive indi- vidual and community grants for their university studies, supplemented by their participation in advanced studies and academic activities, which contribute to their professional and talent development. Their individual academic work is carried out in the community of the Wlislocki Roma Student College, where they can collaborate with peers and with more experienced re- searchers.” (TrendL & Varga, 2018:16) “The Evangelical Church of Hungary, as the support institution from September 1, 2018 is sustaining the Evangelical Roma Student College program in Pécs (PERSZ-E) as part of its com- mitment to serve civil society and help disadvantaged Roma youth access higher education at the University of Pécs. It provides them with a wide range of academic, community-building, and spiritual support to ensure that students can successfully continue their studies. As of the Fall semester of the 2019/2020 academic year, 30 students have been admitted to our universi- ty. They are primarily Roma students with multiple disadvantages. The institution is striving to help these students develop in all dimensions of their lives.” (Pedagogical Programme, PERSZ-E, 2018:5) The professional and scientific cooperation between the two Roma student colleges is quite diverse. One of its most important areas is to help students progress in their academic lives. This volume is the first milestone of a scientific process that includes joint research, field work, evaluation, and the analysis and dissemination of the results through various channels. Cooperative research group as a pedagogical tool In the field of higher education, the primary objective of a college for advanced studies is to support the academic and scientific progress of its students. The activities and academic coop- eration carried out during joint scientific endeavors provides students with cultural and social capital that they can benefit from in the future as they integrate into the labour market. It is also of paramount importance to support student participation in academic research, for which we provide scientific and methodological preparation and various practical opportunities. The Roma student college members can study the discipline needed for scientific research, re- ceive methodological training and participate in targeted tutoring in connection with specific academic areas. In addition, they can also receive support for individual or small-group field research, participate in joint studies with their teachers and other researchers, participate in conferences as organizers and participants, and also engage in regional and international field research. From the wide range of opportunities offered by the student colleges of PERSZ-E and WHSz, students can choose what they would like to participate in based on their study programmes, academic schedules and fields of interest. The experience of WHSz is that the longer the students have been members, the more actively they shape their community, and the more diverse academic roles they are willing to take on (Dobó – Kőszegi– Varga, 2018). Building on these experiences, we have launched the academic research year titled “Equal Opportunities and Inclusion”, which was built on mutual learning support and was established in the WHSz over the past 10 years in order to support the scientific progress and talent develop- ment of student college members. Various “partner research” projects were important develop- mental stages of WHSz because they provided excellent opportunities for mutual learning of par- ticipants. The principle of operation included heterogeneous research teams forming to collabo- rate using a micro-group structure, organizing themselves based on selected subject areas and 8 Aranka Varga: Academic Research in the Roma Student Colleges functioning as a complex research system. The essence of this system is that the research teams consist of members with different ages and levels of academic experiences (teachers, research- ers, PhD students, and student college members). They perform research tasks together and find everyone a role best suited to their competences, learning from each other and observing the research process as a whole. The research teams that follow cooperative principles (Arató 2011; Varga, 2011) allow members to formulate their own research questions and group these questions together to develop research tools or develop joint instruments with other thematic group members. As the next