Abstract
The increasing diversity of European countries has been a major demographic and social trend in recent decades. This change can be attributed to various factors, including globalisation, immigration, and the movement of people within as well as across borders. In addition, autochthonous minorities have been part of Europe’s social fabric for centuries and their distinct cultural, linguistic, and historical identities continue to shape the continent’s diversity today.
Diversity, which can be broadly understood as the existence of difference and variation, is a broad concept that is widely recognised in a variety of fields and disciplines. While it is often seen as universally understood, diversity is context-dependent, meaning that it holds different meanings for different people and groups. The phenomenon of diversity has received considerable attention and has been defined in different ways over the past decades. There is disagreement about definitions of diversity, and debates surrounding its meaning and implications can be found in different sectors of society. Therefore, to truly understand diversity, it is essential to consider the specific context in which it occurs, such as education, which is the focus of this volume, entitled Diversity in Action: Training Teachers through Multilingual and Multicultural Experiences.
At its core, diversity is a social concept based on the idea that differences and variations can coexist in social and environmental spheres. However, diversity can be viewed in different ways – as a potential weakness or a source of strength, as a catalyst for conflict or solidarity, as a perceived threat or a source of inspiration. Without overlooking its inherent challenges, the contributions in this volume adopt a positive perspective on diversity, emphasising that embracing the diversity intrinsic to our complex, contemporary societies can lead to richer and more dynamic educational environments. In such settings, critical thinking is encouraged, creativity is nurtured, social intelligence is developed, and proficiency in multiple languages is celebrated. In essence, diversity transforms schools and preschools into vibrant, interactive, and growth-oriented communities that better equip learners to engage with and navigate the increasingly interconnected world around them.
The chapters in this volume explore linguistic and cultural diversity, as outlined in the second and third section of this introduction. They address the topic not only from a theoretical standpoint but also by examining its real-world manifestation in specific, practical contexts. The contributions shed light on concrete practices, behaviours, interactions, and competences that emerge when diverse languages and cultures intersect. Diversity is seen not only as being present, but as being in action – actively shaping the ways in which people learn, communicate, and grow together. Moreover, diversity in action is accompanied by ongoing reflection – before, during, and after the experiences described and analysed in this volume.