CONTEXTAfter several discussions, formal and informal, consensus was reached that our school staff had little training to date in relation to migrant/refugee education, interculturalism, integration , diversity etc. Although we have a very diverse community in our DEIS status school, we have been relatively 'unexposed' to the challenges that the migrants' crisis, in particular, is posing in other parts of Europe. However, Ireland will play its part in the resettlement of migrants, in the near future.Thus, we decided that we needed professional development for staff as a first step to preparedness. OBJECTIVES The objectives of the professional development are to develop competences in participants and later, in all staff, to enable them to deal with issues mentioned heretofore. This will include attitudes, skills and knowledge being changed in an effort to make participants and other staff more sensitized to diversity issues and challenges.It will also afford staff members the opportunity to gain insights into the difficulties facing marginalised, disadvantaged people who have been traumatised by conflict or other negative experiences.Apart from these competences, participants will gain valuable skills in how to manage change and cope with the many challenges that the future classroom in Deele College will surely have.NUMBER /PROFILEThe Project will include - 4 participants ( 2 male and 2 female) from a range of disciplines. (a) The Deputy Principal (male) is part of Management and is a former Business Studies teacher and was involved in organizing a cultural/educational trip to China for students in his former school. (b)The Project Leader (female) has led Comenius Project/NcompasS Project/Parlez-vous Rugby project etc, speaks French, Spanish and Italian and is an Assistant Principal in the school. She is also a teacher of Spanish and History.(c) The Planning Co-ordinator (female) in the school is another participant. She is a also a Science teacher and has had extensive teaching experience with members of the Travelling Community.(d) The Staff Mentor( male) is a Business Studies teacher and has been a participant in several Cross-border projects/LET/KEY projects and Parlez-vous Rugby Project.DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIESModule 1“From diversities to identities: a study about the creation of a widespread identity in the European multi ethnic society”Module 2: “Areas of inter cultural conflicts and chances of a solution”Module 3: “Strategies to develop inter cultural competence and fight social exclusion”Module 4: “Practical advice and examples of best practices for teachers to implement inter cultural competence”Visits(2) to educational institutionsVisits(2) culturalMETHODOLOGIES TO BE USEDThe course has a defined content and will involve presentations by participants, lectures, discussions, educational and cultural visits,work-shops, evaluations and reports. There will be elements of ICT incorporated.There will be opportunities for meeting others/networking and creating contacts for future projects.RESULTS AND IMPACT ENVISAGEDIt is envisaged that there will be an increased awareness/knowledge of all aspects of diversity and integration and thatthe professional development will result in the enhancement of the collaborative, holistic approach of participants and all staff to the diverse students/families that are part of our school-going population.The training will also be disseminated to students in an effort to increase their intercultural competences so as to prevent /fight against racism, prejudice and discrimination in school.POTENTIAL LONG-TERM BENEFITSchool enrolment in Ireland is undergoing a vast racial and ethnic transformation yet there is little or no policy discussion of these changes and the preparation of teachers that is required for this change.After this training course participants will be in a position to engage with the local education authority (Co Donegal ETB) to try to effect change in relation to training for all staff in all ETB schools in diversity/integration. The ultimate long-term benefit will be a cohesive society in our school community where human rights are respected and the school is a safe place for diversity - Initial training can be built upon later and extended to each new cohort of staff. The competences acquired will be transversal.