The HAND in HAND project aims to provide a systemic tool in a form of Social, Emotional and Intercultural (SEI) competence development program for students as well as for school staff. A student program including five different modules that in different ways address (SEI) competencies is under development within the Hand in Hand project (Marušić, Puzić, Jugović, Košutić, Matić, & Mornar). A successful implementation of a social and emotional learning program is crucial for its effectiveness and thus the purpose of the present study is to identify key aspects in the implementation of the Hand in Hand Program for students in Sweden. Research (Durlak, 2015, p 397) has identified multiple factors important for successful implementation of programs in order to be effective. Factors studied here are fidelity to the program, adaptions of the program to a local context, participants responsiveness and the quality of program delivery. Data collected from surveys compiled by the two teams of trainers directly after each of the 30 school visits are analysed qualitatively in order to examine how the implementation of the student program respond to the factors mentioned. In addition, data from the trainers own descriptions of the meetings will be used. Preliminary results indicates that class teachers’ attitude to the values of the program were important for how well the program were received. Moreover, the instructors’ ability to keep a structure as well as being flexible in adjusting the program according to the student group’s need was shown to be crucial. Also, the access to a room with the possibility of having both physical activities as well as discussions in groups in different ways, were of importance. These and additional results need to be further analysed in relation to the factors studied and will, together with other results within the project, be crucial to the final design of the Swedish version of the Programme for students.

Durlak, J.A. et al. (2015). Handbook of social and emotional learning. New York: The Guilford Press. Marušić, I., Puzić, S., Jugović, I., Košutić, I., Matić, J., & Mornar, M. (2018). HAND in HAND program for students, manual. Unpublished material.