Sector: Higher Education
Unibo structure involved: Department of Civil, Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering
Unibo Team: Annalena Esposito; Vanessa Valisella
Project Duration in months: 35
Start Date: 01/09/2017
End Date: 31/07/2020
Budget: 187.941 euro
Coordinator: FUNDACION ONCE PARA LA COOPERACION E INCLUSION SOCIAL DE PERSONAS CON DISCAPACIDAD (Spain)
Partners:
- FUNDACION UNIVERSIDAD FRANCISCO DE VITORIA (ES)
- ALMA MATER STUDIORUM - UNIVERSITA DI BOLOGNA (IT)
- BRUNEL UNIVERSITY LONDON (UK)
- UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON (UK)
Description
BACKGROUND
People with disabilities represent 80 million persons in the European Union (more than 15% of the population), the equivalent to the population of Belgium, the Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary and the Netherlands combined. This means there are over 80 million people who are often unable to fully participate in society and the economy due to physical or social barriers. It is essential that people with disabilities participate fully in economic and social life to generate a smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. Providing training to future professionals in matters of disability is a way to establish the bases of an inclusive society that undoubtedly would imply a great advance in inclusion and equality. Hence, an innovative project aimed at raising equality and improving the future conditions of people in a situation of disability, needs to be focused on the training of tomorrow professionals, empowering university students for the future changing ecosystem. Bringing these challenges closer to universities is the best way to ensure considerable improvements in the well being of people with disabilities in the near future.
MAIN IDEA
In order to bring the societal challenges faced by people with disabilities closer to universities and in line with European Regulations, it is necessary to complement the programmes of the different university degrees with training courses on the specific needs people in any situation of disability may have in every societal aspect taking into consideration the “design for all" (D4ALL) and Universal Accessibility concepts, in a way of ensuring that environments, products, services and interfaces work for people of all ages and
abilities. In so doing, it is hoped that graduates and future professionals will become sensitive to these issues and act as advocates of the needs of the people with disabilities within their chosen sphere of activity.
The ONCE Foundation, has been committed to ensure the social inclusion of people with disabilities since 1988. Over its three decades of existence, the ONCE Foundation has become a national and international benchmark in the struggle to place people with disabilities on an equal footing with their fellow citizens.
ONCE Foundation, as coordinator of the project will work together with the following universities:
UFV –Universidad Francisco de Vitoria (SPAIN)
UNIBO-University of Bologna (ITALY)
BUL –Brunel University London (UK)
UCL –University College of London (UK)
The main objective of the project is:
To provide educational institutions with the required tools and knowledge for compliance with the fundamental principles of design for all, enshrined in the European Regulations, thus enabling educators to train future representatives of society on how to address the challenges of people with disabilities empowering them within the various professional activities they’ll develop in the future.
EDUCA4ALL project has been conceived to be carried out according the following methodology:
First phase:
1. Design of technical D4ALL self assessment guide ONCE Foundation
2. Formation of a "task force" in each university
3. Webinar training in D4ALL for the task forces
4. Review of Arch. and Civil Eng. educational programmes with the implementation of the Self Assessment guides in the 4 pilot
universities
5. Development of report including results, conclusions and recommendations
Second phase:
1. Development of a D4ALL skills profile for educators in Arch. and Civil Eng. Degrees.
2. Definition of module 1, 2, 3 of the teachers training course. (Common, specific and practical training)
3. Review of the training course with educational associations and institutions
Third phase:
1. Implementation of the D4ALL training course for educators in the 4 pilot universities
2. Preparation of the material and practices by educators
3. Pilots 1, 2, 3 and 4-Implementation of tools and knowledge acquired by educators in real training environment with students
4. Evaluation/Documentation of training courses and corrective actions
Fourth phase:
1. Review Arch. and Civil Eng. D4ALL educational programmes proposal developed by ONCE in the past
2. Analysis of the current EU directives and recommendations
3. Adaptation (EU Level) and update of the main aspects of D4ALL educational programmes developed by ONCE in the past
4. Contact with EU educational institutions and stakeholders
5. Analysis and exposure of the progress made during the project´s activities
6. Study of methodology to implement all the D4ALL training courses within the Arch. and Civil Eng. existing programmes
7. Develop a formative new strategy proposal through a D4ALL educational programme to implement in EU Universities
8. Impact analysis and conclusions, assessment and corrective actions
EDUCA4ALL project will stablish a European collaborative networking group with proven expertise in fostering the implementation
of D4ALL educational programmes in Universities, open to collaborate with other relevant agents.
