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www.zeroproject.org
office@zeroproject.org
1.
Sustainable and high-quality competency in the area of higher education pedagogy, i.e. teaching staff;
2.
High-quality implementation of study programmes based on learning outcome, i.e. quality of study;
3.
Quality of recognition of prior learning and work experience, i.e. RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning);
4.
Support systems and result-orientated management skills that support the conducting of studies, i.e. strategic
management;
5.
Research and analyses in the field of higher education, i.e. research and analysis;
6.
Training of adjusting to studies for entrants by providing study and career counselling services and support
services to students with special needs;
7.
Students with special needs can apply for scholarships or for one time grants covering extra study costs.
Scholarships or one time grants can be allocated for covering regular support services (e.g. personal assistants,
sign language interpreter, transport), or for irregular lump sum payment for services. In addition, the state has
supported students with special needs through scholarships granted for the higher education institution to
organize the regular support services (e.g. sign language interpreter).
I
NNOVATION
To make it work the following barriers were removed: universal design was implemented in many universities thanks to
technical solutions and mapping of obstacles; obstacles of higher additional costs due to disability was removed due to
functioning scholarships; the development of the topic of special needs by creating a disability counselor or contact
person. In Tallinn University of Technology (TUT) this meant implementing peer-support – TUT hired a qualified (former)
disabled student to counsel other students and develop the field in university.
F
ACTS ON
O
UTPUT
(W
ITH
A
DDITIONS FROM THE
Z
ERO
P
ROJECT
T
EAM
)
1.
About 100 scholarships per year were given out in the last three years.
2.
Scholarships of 220 € per month were available to cover university-related costs for transportation, personal
assistance, other costs such as printing, copying, adapting materials, etc. Additional 550 € per month were
available to pay for sign language interpreters for deaf students. Since the end of the programme, the
scholarship are paid by the Ministry’s budget, and vary from 60 to 325 € per month, depending on the type of
disability and the academic programme.
3.
The programme financed hiring costs for counselors and contact personnel supporting students with special
needs (these specialists kept working afterwards).
4.
Universities acquired different technical supports to foster accessibility: Braille printers, zooming monitors,
dictaphones, tactile orientation maps, automatic doors, stair lifts, showering stools, etc. and created accessible
study materials and handbooks, for instance added subtitles to electronic study materials, organized seminars,
information events, briefings on the topic of disabilities and special needs, studying, admission, etc. to support
students with special needs as well as teachers and supporting staff.