With an increasing number of children diagnosed on the autism spectrum disorders (ASD), there is a strong need to increase the awareness, knowledge, skills and understanding of future professionals working with children with ASD and their families. In some UE countries, the number of ASD exclusively dedicated courses in universities is reduced or missing completely. In the proposed project there are four universities that will jointly develop a five-dimensional (Assessment-Therapy-Educational-Family-Advocacy) innovative course on ASD for to the future professionals in the field. The objectives of our project are: •To develop an innovative academic course on ASD, based on the integrative view of case management; • To create a European Virtual University Clinic for ASD (EVUCASD) which will host the Open Educational Resources developed in the project; • To share the curriculum model, tools and materials with other universities, stakeholders, practitioners to improve the curricular offer at national and European levels. The activities of the project consist in: -developing intellectual outputs: the course concept, the course materials (the teacher’s manual, the student’s manual), an academic book on ASD; the Online Platform for the European Virtual University Clinic for ASD which embeds the MOOC; -learning activities: there will be 4 sessions for testing the course in an intensive manner (ISP); -dissemination and sustainability activities: dissemination activities will take place during all project's lifetime and all partners will participate. Also, the multiplier events will be used as dissemination tools-workshops, seminars, conference. The project will involve 420 students and 58 academics (direct beneficiaries) and estimated 500 parents, children with ASD, professionals, stakeholders (indirect beneficiaries). Methodology to be used is a participatory methodology that integrates the use of ICT. The project will be managed through a collaborative methodology enabling open communication, clear roles and responsibilities for each partner. The main results of the project: The Intellectual outputs consisting in the course concept, the course materials (the teacher’s manual, the student’s manual), the academic book, the EVUCASD online platform and the MOOC. More skilled and competent students (160 certified with ECTS), with new developed competences (as described in occupational standards), including better English language and ITC skills, that will be developed using the on/line platform EVUCASD and communicating with other European students. We estimate positive and long lasting effects on: 1.Higher education programs in the field of ASD in the partner's countries. The modules of the new developed course will be integrated in the curriculum of the partner universities. Other universities and continuous education providers can take the course and teach it the future contributing to a higher level of novelty and internationalization of the study programs. 2. A European virtual network of specialists in ASD (psychologists, psycho-pedagogues, teachers, including parents who will become specialists in educating their child) who can interact and learn from and with each other in the EVUCASD. 3. An improved awareness in the field of ASD. The materials developed in the project (including the MOOC) will be available on EVUCASD for all interested parties, including the general public. Through the dissemination activities all stakeholders interested in the life of the children with ASD and also the general public will become aware of the possible interventions for children with ASD with significant benefits for, quality of life, educational achievement, family life, and social inclusion.
The aim of our project was to respond to a clearly identified need, the lack of courses on ASD in some countries of the EU, including project partner countries. We started with three objectives: • To develop an innovative academic course on ASD, based on the integrative view of case management; • To create a European Virtual University Clinic for ASD (EVUCASD) which will host the Open Educational Resources developed in the project; • To share the curriculum model, tools, and materials with other universities, stakeholders, practitioners to improve the curricular offer at national and European levels. We reached all objectives above through different actions: 1. We developed an innovative approach of ASD intervention, based on five dimensions approach, in an ecological paradigm. Our particular approach combines the traditional therapeutic approach with education, family counseling and advocacy, and social action. All of our intellectual outputs reflect this particular approach. 2. We also wanted to create a social virtual space for learning, sharing experience, and networking. We developed a Virtual Platform that has the necessary function for the assumed objective. The platform hosts both our online course, a forum, and resources in four languages. 3. We performed dissemination activities in the form of multiplier events and networking, in sending intellectual outputs to schools, NGOs, libraries, and universities. We reached a European dimension by making available all the intellectual output online, with open access, by sending some of the materials in different universities and libraries across Europe. We also had four learning activities with 160 students as beneficiaries. The total number of students and professionals involved in the project’s activity is around 1000. Our methodology was open coordination. We consulted beneficiaries, students, and teachers, in order to adapt our materials to their needs. Also, we favored a blended learning approach, with the MOOC as an online tool for learning. We estimate positive and long-lasting effects on: 1.Higher education programs in the field of ASD in the partner's countries. We managed to embed our course in the curricula in three universities, at the undergraduate level (Zagreb University), Master level (ULBS Sibiu and WUT) and Postgraduate level (West University of Timisoara). In the last case, the new PG program is accredited by the National Qualification Agency and by The Behavior Analyst Certification Board, Inc.® (BACB®) from the USA 2. A European virtual network of specialists in ASD (psychologists, psycho-pedagogues, teachers, including parents who will become specialists in educating their child) who can interact and learn from and with each other in the EVUCASD. 3. Improved awareness in the field of ASD. The increased awareness about autism could be seen in all three partner countries. In Italy, the course was part of teacher training for the last two years. This year it also started to be included in the curricula of the University of Ferrara. In Croatia, the University of Zagreb is the main trainer in the field of autism. Their expertise extends also in Bosnia, where our course is used in teacher training in the field of ASD. In Romania, especially the special schools have now the first manual for ASD. Overall, we consider that our project succeeded in meeting the proposed objectives and results.