KHACHATUR ABOVYAN ARMENIAN STATE PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY

 

The recurrent meeting arranged within the framework of the Tempus "ASPIRE" (Access to Society for People with Individual Requirements) Project was held at Armenian State Pedagogical University on February 12.

 

 

In his welcome address, Hovhannes Harutyunyan, Vice-rector of Eurasia International University (EIU) and local coordinator of the project, hailed the positive trend of implementing similar projects in Armenia and said they promote and develop access to inclusive education and make it possible to train specialists of the sector. “We need to be as active as possible and offer new ideas to promote and develop inclusive education and provide individuals with special needs with an opportunity to continue their studies at institutions of higher education,” he said. 

 

 

During the meeting, the EU partners of the project, Fiona Hallett and Gerard Cullen, presented their experience and stressed the importance of ensuring the continuity of the project.

 

 

“Training of educators is foreseen in the first phase of the project. Our next objective is to raise public awareness and attract a large number of people thereby facilitating the access of individuals with special needs to higher education and promoting their integration in the society,” Fiona Hallett said expressing her readiness to conduct research on the issue with each of the participants.

 

 

Irish specialist Gerard Cullen agreed with his partner and said, in turn, that it is equally important to change people's thinking and apart from implementing the training program

 composed of eight modules, work with individuals with disabilities, promote their communicative skills and marketing development.

 

 

Gerard Cullen also informed the attendees that events to raise awareness will be held in April 2014 and in 2015 as well. Those include lectures, advertisements, flash-mobs, photo exhibitions, meetings with parents of children with special needs, etc. Participants of small working groups formed during the meeting enumerated the series of events to be organized with the €3000 ‘allocated’ to them within the framework of the project.

 

 

“ASPIRE program gives an opportunity to ensure learning opportunities for children with special needs and create a healthy and safe learning environment. In the result of trainings organized within the realm of the program, support groups have been set up in all faculties of the University that will oversee the entire learning process of individuals with special educational needs. University entrants must be sure that they have an opportunity to get higher education in our country as well,” Heghine Khachatryan, Dean of the Faculty of Primary Education, local coordinator of the Tempus ASPIRE project, said in conversation with old.aspu.am.

 

 

Tempus ASPIRE project aims to foster the rights of individuals with special needs to access education and enjoy the right of participation in everyday society, to combat discrimination of the individuals with special needs by instilling awareness and acceptance in society.

 

 

The local partners of the project are Armenian State Pedagogical University after Kh. Abovyan, Goris State University, Eurasia International University, Public Administration Academy of the Republic of Armenia and Bridge of Hope NGO.