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)