minutes of working visit at university of macedonia...
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Support and Inclusion of students with disabilities at
higher education institutions in Montenegro
MINUTES OF WORKING VISIT AT UNIVERSITY OF MACEDONIA (DEV 4.1 & DEV7.1) The working visit took place at UOM on 27th- 29th AUGUST 2012 and visit had multiple objectives since it combined the content of two deliverables 4.1 and 7.1. Tempus Project 516758-TEMPUS-1-2011-1-GR-TEMPUS-JPGR This document is written by Lefkothea Kartasidou
INUTES
The working visit had multiple tasks since it combined activities for two
deliverables DEV4.1 and DEV7.1. At the same time since all ME partners
participated it was necessary to discuss the activities of WP4, DISS8 &
EXP9. The ME partners had the chance to discuss issues of dissemination policy and
cooperation between them especially UDG, UNIM, AYDM and IERK.
Introduction QPLN7 – Workshop I On the first day following the Agenda the content and the methodology of QPLN7 was
introduced to ME partners. The aim of the presentation was to present the literature regarding Quality Control and the meaning of it for the process cycle of the project (plan – do –check – act cycle).
• Plan: Assesses the project’s current level of quality, where the level needs to be, and then develops an effective and workable plan with specific targets for improving quality
• Do: Implements the planned solution or change • Check: Reviews and evaluates the results of the
implemented change and its affect on project quality and ensures that there are no negative consequences
• Act: Takes action based on what was learned from implementing and evaluating the planned change.
The methodology included the following points: 1. To Do List for all WPs 2. Problem Analysis 3. Objective Analysis 4. Project Design Matrix 5. Total Quality Management for Internal QMC 6. SWOT Analysis
M
During the first day the first four points where discussed. Especially a discussion took place
regarding the TO DO LIST that involved the issue of quality indicators. It was suggested to
add in the excel file of the To DO List of each WP an extra column that will have all
indicators: i.e. nr of students with disabilities that were involved during working visits. The
most important thing is that indicators will provide all needed information regarding the
progress of the project. These indicators are also mentioned in the Logical Framework of the
project.
Table 1
TO DO LIST without indicators
Table 2
TO DO LIST with indicators
Figure 1 Problem tree developed during Workshop I
Figure 2 Objective Tree developed during Workshop I as a continuum of Problem Tree
It has been marked that Problem and Objective Analysis can be a good practice for
monitoring and controlling the project.
Good time management and on time project outputs
On time initiation
Each partner should take into consideration especially regarding working visits
possible external factors that must influence the
develpoment of the activities i.e. strikes withing country
Respect to deadlines
Better/ adequate understanding of the
content of the activities
Share knowledge among partners that have more experience in projects.
Discuss all important issues with them.
Good communication
Give deadlines for response in e-mails
Each partner when proposing the use of ICT/ e
service must ask other partners of its accedibility
or know-how
Transfer and share knowledge with all partners
Bad –time management. Delay of project outputs
Late initiation
Unpredictable factors
No respect to deadlines
No understanding
Inexperienced partners
Bad communication
No deadlines were given in e-mails
Not accessible e-services for the implementation
No knowledge
Dissemination policy of the project - DISS8 Bojana Lakovic introduced the activities of Dissemination. She provided a draft of visibility material (leaflet, brochure, booklet) and its content was discussed. Bojana has asked all partners to give a feedback regarding material until 12th September. All material must be available during the conference. Regarding promotion to Media AYDM suggested a title: “Support ME@HE”. Planning and Organizing the Conference 2012 –DISS8 The 1st Dissemination Conference will be hosted by UDG and take place on 10th December
2012.
Ι. TITLE FOR THE CONFERENCE “SUPPORT ME@HE” ΙΙ. HOST INSTITUTION: University of Donja Gorica ΙΙΙ. ORGANIZING COMMITTEE (should be set up) ΙV. PRESENTERS
EU Partners
ME Partners
ME Representatives V. PARTICIPANTS
Students with and without disabilities (secondary and tertiary education)
Ministries
Staff (administrative and teaching)
NGOs, DPOs, Student Organizations VI.CONTENT
Dissemination of the project (IN THE MORNING)
Raising awareness on disability/ Importance of enrollment of HEIs VII. DISSEMINATION
Media promotion: TV , Radio
Websites
Ministries
Poster VIII. LANGUAGES
Sign language interpreter
Language of the Conference: Montenegrin and English (translation)
UNIM suggested having a questionnaire during the conference in order to gather data for
new and prospective students with disabilities. Gathered data will help measure awareness.
On the second day the Accessibility Unit for
Students with Disabilities at University of Athens
was introduced by Associate Professor G.
Kouroupetroglou. He presented all steps of the establishment of the Unit, all obstacles that
the Unit faced on the beginning but also today. The model of services was introduced (see
below).
Figure 3
Model of services
Support services are provided in three levels: (a) services addressing directly the needs of
the students with disabilities, (b) services addressing student’s environment and (c)
accessibility promoting services.
Important details were also discussed regarding organization and management of the
accessibility unit
Figure 4
Organization and management of Accessibility Unit
Discussion about equipment
Mr Kouroupetroglou made a suggestion: Since there is small number of students with
disabilities in ME perhaps the two universities will support different kind of disabilities. This
is an international policy and will help buy better and adequate equipment. The HEIs must
focus on hardware and search for free software
http://access.uoa.gr/ATHENA/eng/pages/home
In order to have a better idea of what is being need regarding equipment it is essential the development of WP2 and WP3 and was also suggested that Resource Center (IERH) and AYDM until end of October will give some statistics regarding:
secondary school students with disabilities that are prospective HE students for the next 6 years and
the disabilities that are being reported officially and that are estimated according to
their experience.
Collaboration and Cooperation between UOM and the Association of Visual Impairment
Research (AVIR)
The last part of the Agenda on Tuesday 28th has focused on issues that would help ME
partners to set up some criteria i.e. training, volunteerism and producing accessible text
books. The basic principles of the cooperation between the two organizations where shortly
introduced.
The role of the Association was to train students and select volunteers according to the following criteria: A) Their suitability to undertake a task and if they are cooperative. B) Their level of commitment in order to meet the demands of the work assigned. C) Basic knowledge of computer use on text editing software (e.g. Microsoft Word).
Afterwards two trained students (Master and PhD student) actively involved in the production of accessible text books presented the whole process and discussed obstacles and problems during the procedure. The steps for producing accessible digital books are:
• Scanning of book • Optical Character Recognition – OCR • Text editing and formatting
According to the Agenda on the third day of the working visit a discussion took place regarding WP4 and EXP9.
Exchange ideas for the implementation of WP4 Danijela Milosevic presented the tasks of WP4. A question was stated regarding the content of DEV4.2. Main purpose of DEV4.2 to provide all needed information regarding the use of special equipment, i.e. suggested adaptations for students with physical disability. Information regarding adjustments, adaptations or modifications will be given from previous WPs (WP2 and WP3) where the needs analysis will be introduced. Thus, the working visit 4.1 to ME from EU partners it is suggested to take place after December when all equipment is bought and placed so that EU partners will have a consulting role. The two universities should find solutions such as having one Student Advisory Office perhaps located in AYDM, since there is small number of students with disabilities attending HEIs in ME. In order to proceed to that there must be an internal agreement between HEIs and AYDM but also to have that proposal written in Guidelines of WP3. It is decided that each University will support different categories of disabilities and that also has raised the question of equipment placement. In the already discussed framework equipment can be also placed in one institution i.e. AYDM. AYDM also offers transportation to students with disabilities and it is essential in order to succeed accessibility to find a solution for transportation in cooperation with Universities officially. The suggestion is perhaps that Universities and AYDM share some expenses for the transportation already offered by AYMD. If that is going to be decided it must be also written in guidelines and in the internal agreement between HEIs and AYDM. Another point that was discussed is where is the best way to deliver information to students
with disabilities regarding their studies. AYDM suggested using the website from Ministry of
Information Society www.disabilityinfo.me. This must be also discussed with ME partners in
order to search the question of sustainability.
Policy for the establishment of inter-university peer support EXP9 Nela Milosevic introduced the activities of EXP9. It was discussed the possibility of creating a student organization that will be involved in peer support. It was suggested to have a general name for that organization since there is small number of students with disabilities right now in ME HEIs. A general name will ensure sustainability that is one of the goals of EXP9. There was a name suggested “Higher Education Life & Participation (H.E.L.P.)”. The ME
partners together with leading partner UDG will decide on the name of the student organization and inform all partners too. UDG suggested also after the meeting with authorities during working visit 3.1 where the guidelines of WP3 will be discussed in order to come up with an agreement, the two universities UDG and UNIM will have a meeting in order to develop an agreement for peer support. Workshop II The second part of the meeting focused on the two last points of the methodology for QPLN7:
1. To Do List for all WPs 2. Problem Analysis 3. Objective Analysis 4. Project Design Matrix 5. Total Quality Management for Internal QMC 6. SWOT Analysis
It was decided (a) to develop points or questions following the theory of Total Quality
Management for the development of Internal Quality Control and (b) to follow SWOT
analysis for External Quality Control.
The reports of internal quality control must always refer to any changes that have been
made and also any other adaptations or modifications regarding the development of
activities. ME partners (UNIM, UDG, IICT) will prepare the 1st IQC report until the end of
October 2012. The leading partner UOM should prepare points that must be taken into
consideration when writing the IQC report.
In order to have transparency and since it is highly recommended from EACEA it was also
suggested and decided to have an external evaluator who will have experience in European
projects but at the same time will be able to evaluate the content of the project, that means
have experience in supporting Higher Education students with disabilities. The coordinator
will have to see to all details and inform all partners about the procedure of having an
external evaluator.
A change was suggested regarding Internal Quality Control thus to have one report per year
instead of two reports. The IQC report will be written from ME partners in English and in
Montenegrin language. The External Quality Control Report will be written in English and
translated in Montenegrin language from a staff member of UOM.
The visit ended with a discussion regarding upcoming visits and activities during visit to ME
in December:
A) NEXT PLANNED WORKING VISITS
DEV2.3 to Arcola: Period second part of October. ME partners that are planned to
participate are UDG, UNIM and FHMN
DEV3.1 to DSIS: 24th and 27th September ME partners that are planned to
participate are UDG, UNIM, IERK, AYDM and IICT.
DEV3.1 to ME/UDG: Beginning of October. EU partners that are planned to
participate UW and UOM.
Dissemination Conference 2012 to ME/UDG: 10th December.
2nd coordination meeting as it is already decided to take place in ME the
11th of December.
DEV 7.1 for Internal Quality control and DEV 7.2
for external Quality control to ME from EU partners, on 12th of December
B) ACTIVITIES DURING VISIT TO ME IN DECEMBER
Conference 2012
2nd Coordination meeting
1st Report for External Quality Control
Introduction of activities for WP5
Presentation of the agreement for peer support EXP9
PRESENT PARTICIPANTS
University of Macedonia
o Lefkothea Kartasidou
o Ioannis Agaliotis
o Elsa Pavlidou
o Tanja Neskovic
o Maria Platsidou
University of Donja Gorica
o Sandra Tinaj
o Nela Milosevic
University Mediterranean
o Danijela Milošević
Institute for Education and Rehabilitation of persons with hearing
and speech disorders Kotor
o Mihovic Viktorija
Faculty of Management Herceg Novi
o Sinisa Kusovac
Institute of Information technology
o Dzenan Strujic
Association of youth with disabilities of Montenegro
o Bojana Lakovic
o Velibor Boskovic
C) Ministry of information society and Telecommunications
a. Radule Novovic
b. Adis Balota
PHOTO GALLERY OF WORKING VISIT TO UOM (27-29 AUGUST 2012)
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