Inclusive tertiary education in the Western Balkans (IDEA)

In view of this acute issue, the proposed project’s overall aim is to improve access, establish inclusive education learning conditions and develop employment opportunities for SwD and students with learning difficulties in the Western Balkans. The means to accomplish this overarching aims is building capacities of the Student Service Units, faculty, administration, students and governing bodies of the partner countries’ collaborating HEIs and their respective Ministries of Education, developing modern inclusion practices, assistive technologies and networking, which will also benefit disadvantaged groups in lower educational levels (primary and secondary education).

In order to improve its equity of access overall aim, the project shall work to accomplish the following objectives:

• Create and/or enhance institutional support structures and protocols to enable access to Higher Education and foster the consolidation of a social integration and accessibility culture within partner universities.
• Enhance the managerial and administrative staff capacities of partner HEIs dealing with and implementing inclusive education practices.
• Equip the Disability Support Units with effective and relevant assistive technology.
• Increase external relations cooperation to improve Higher Education access and employment of disabled students.
• Increase public and students’ awareness and understanding on the importance of inclusive education within HE for the society.

The project’s aims and objectives are guided and informed by the following principles:

• Equity, i.e. equal participation in education by passing by inequalities due to social barriers on disability and/or learning difficulties.
• Relevance, meant as HE learning attuned to the particular characteristics, abilities and needs of SwD who have special needs in education.
• Access, implied as the principle by which every SwD or SwLD participates with the same rights and conditions with their peers, through adequate, targeted services.
• Effectiveness, i.e. improving SwD & SwLD HE participation, achievements, graduation rates and gradually removing barriers of biases and stereotypes beliefs in the course of learning.
• Efficiency, meant as the development of individuals and communities appreciating diversity.