One of the main obstacles in Europe to implement an inclusive education is the irregularity in the transition between educational stages, in particular to higher education. Moreover, there is a disparity between the different Member States (MS) of the European Union regarding the implementation of universal strategies that facilitate the access of persons with disabilities to higher education. The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD Committee) describes the European scenario as worrying emphasizing that "in various MS, many children and adults with disabilities do not have access to an inclusive and quality education". Considering the events described, Fundación ONCE, along with a Consortium composed of 8 institutions from 6 different European countries, proposes to address EUni4All-Network, a 26-month project to encourage the inclusion of persons with disabilities in higher education through diagnosis and analysis of inclusive universities to be a reference for other universities. This will be reflected both in a European guide, accessible and available to all, and a web-accessible platform. The project promotes the international mobility among students with disabilities and seeks to raise awareness regarding the social inclusion of students with disabilities in the university. The ultimate goal is the creation of a European network of inclusive universities to reduce the barriers for persons with disabilities to higher education, as well as to equate the strategies of universal accessibility for all. In regard to the participants of the project, 5 training courses (Spain, Italy, Portugal, Finland and Poland) will address 160 faculty and other administrative staff members to improve their knowledge and skills regarding the social inclusion of persons with disabilities in the university. Likewise, 3 international multiplier events and dissemination activities will address 400 European universities, more than 1000 students, at least 28 EU policy makers, more than 100 NGOs and associations of persons with disabilities, among others. The expected results (Report on Standards of Inclusion for Universities; European Guide of Inclusive Universities; Programme and content of the EUni4All training courses for faculty members and administrative staff; Web-accessible platform) will trigger a series of activities that will occur chronologically according to the following methodology: First phase: REPORT ON STANDARDS OF INCLUSION FOR UNIVERSITIES • First standards identification • Final Report on Standards of Inclusion for Universities • Elaboration of the open-ended questionnaire • Creation of a check-list for the presentation of results • 1st multiplier event: “Seminar on the Report on Standards of Inclusion for Universities” Second phase: EUROPEAN GUIDE OF INCLUSIVE UNIVERSITIES • Universities selection • Universities study • Identification of the inspirational practices • Elaboration of the European Guide of Inclusive Universities • 2nd multiplier event: “Conference: Presenting the European Guide of Inclusive Universities” Third phase: TRAINING COURSES FOR FACULTY MEMBERS AND ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF • Search of information • Preparation of didactic material • Preparation of group activities and workshops • Planning training activities Fourth phase: WEB-ACCESSIBLE PLATFORM • Study of the report of universities • Platform design & accessibility needs analysis • Web platform development • Testing and validation • Web platform launching • 3rd multiplier event “Conference: Introducing the web- accessible platform and presenting strategies to promote the Network of Inclusive Universities” In relation to the effect and dimension of the project, there will be 4 levels of impact: European, international, national and local. At the European level, EUni4All–Network project is completely aligned with the area of “Education and Training” of EU Disability Strategy 2010-2020, since it will identify the standards of inclusion for universities consulting the CRPD and European legal framework, study 56 European universities and create a guide and a web accessible platform of European inclusive universities. At the international level, the project aims to obtain a worldwide impact in two ways: universities around the world will promote inclusion and the participation of persons with disabilities in higher education will increase thanks to the Web-accessible platform promotion and the participation of journalists, influencers and international organizations in the multiplier events. Long-term benefits of the project are guaranteed through the maintenance of the Web-accessible platform and the development of European network of inclusive universities. Therefore, dissemination and training will be continued by Fundación ONCE and EDF, both key references for disability in Spain and Europe.
The ultimate goal of this project was to create a network of inclusive European universities in order to promote the inclusion and international mobility of students with disabilities. 1) To create a guide of indicators of inclusion and escencial standards that universities must meet in order to be considered inclusive. 2) To create a self-assessment tool that would allow European universities to review their cultures, policies and practices of inclusion for people with disabilities. 3) To publish a guide with the main self-assessment results and analysis of participating universities. 4) Design a web platform to facilitate the information provided by these universities in an agile and accessible way. 5) To train university academic and administrative staff to improve their practices of inclusion and international mobility of students with disabilities.
The project was proposed because students with disabilities are still underrepresented in international mobility programmes and universities do not have instruments to evaluate the inclusion actions they should incorporate in their educational practices. There are no common standards for European universities in this area. We wanted to design and develop instruments that favour the mobility of students with disabilities and the inclusive policies of these universities. Regarding the needs, we have addressed: self-assessment, standardisation and sharing of inclusion policies and practices in European universities; training of university academic and administrative staff; and flexible and accessible information to guide students with disabilities on the policies, practices, culture and services offered by universities that respond to their support needs. The aim is to address the difficulties faced by students with disabilities in finding inclusive European universities. At the same time, European universities are encouraged to become part of this network by reviewing and improving their inclusive practices.