Inclusion Training in Intellectual Disability for Educators in Europe Erasmus Project

Project Title

Inclusion Training in Intellectual Disability for Educators in Europe

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships addressing more than one field

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2014

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Disabilities – special needs; Recognition (non-formal and informal learning/credits); Inclusion – equity

Project Summary

In the EU, outcomes for learners with special educational needs, intellectual or physical disabilities still lag behind those of their peers. The ITIDE project (Inclusion Training in Intellectual Disability for Educators in Europe) aimed to address this under performance by tackling deficits in training amongst educators through making a suite of practice-leading interactive open access training materials available in six partner countries (UK, Republic of Ireland, Spain, Turkey, Bulgaria and Austria) . The project supported progress towards the Europe 2020 targets on reducing early school leaving and improving adult qualification levels.

The participants in this project came from higher education and specialist agencies in six partner countries:

United Kingdom: Leeds Beckett University (lead partner), National Association for Special Educational Needs (the leading national education charity)
Republic of Ireland: Limerick University, Profexcel (a private SME, a market leading provider of online special education needs training)
Spain: Universidad Complutense de Madrid
Austria:Dr Pretis SINN (a private SME dealing with research and training in the field of persons with disability, specifically with children)
Turkey; Andalou University
Bulgaria: Marie-Curie Institute (a non-profit, NGO providing support and services to disabled people)

The ITIDE project developed these resources by building on an existing excellent set of materials previously developed in the UK. Following an initial review of research and practice, the materials were adapted, translated and piloted in each partner country. Accreditation for each set of materials was then sought from local HEIs. The materials were built into instructionally-designed online platforms and an App was developed to allow mobile access. User guides were also developed to help learners access and structure their learning from the materials.
The result is a flexible, high-quality suite of open access materials which can form part of HEI portfolios, but could equally be accessed by learners on an informal basis or be used by small and medium institutions to structure their own training. The target audience for these materials is educators in schools and other institutions, whether educationally focused or not.
The three year project concluded with the production of an evaluation and a set of policy recommendations. We expect the legacy of these open access materials to have a continuing direct and indirect effect on raising the level of vocational education in this area across Europe.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 352292,54 Eur

Project Coordinator

LEEDS BECKETT UNIVERSITY & Country: UK

Project Partners

• Profexcel.Net Ltd
• ANADOLU UNIVERSITY
• UNIVERSIDAD COMPLUTENSE DE MADRID
• MARIE CURIE ASSOCIATION – MCA
• Dr. Pretis
• UNIVERSITY OF LIMERICK
• National Association of Special Educational Needs