Assisting Better Communication Erasmus Project

Project Title

Assisting Better Communication

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 : Capacity Building in higher education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2016

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics:

Project Summary

Erasmus+ CBHE 2016-2019 Project “ABC – Assisting Better Communication” has been implemented with the aim to enhance the profession of a Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) in the participating countries (BiH, GE, and IL) through elaboration of quality courses and programs offered at different levels of higher and professional education.The ABC programme as designed and launched addressed the needs of the persons with communication and swallowing difficulties (nearly 90% of children having a risk of disabilities need SL therapy) and their families. ABC relevance is the SLT itself that is necessary for those who suffer from difficulties of communication and speech – include people with a wide range of disorders of the general communication and speech autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and other chronic conditions. SL therapy is important for children having articulation and speech problems, crucial for persons with hearing impairment etc. Thus, SLT profession is a very important specialization, which assists people with special communicational needs.Over the past 10 years, the need for SLT service has become crucially evident and relevant due to the progressive awareness of communication, speech and language related disabilities in both children and adults. In most cases these clients are being served by persons with no qualification in SLT – they are from different related disciplines, such as linguistics, education and/or psychology, which cannot assure the quality of the SLT services. In response, the ABC programme allowed the development of modern European standards-based specialization in Communication and SLT that has responded to the increased needs of quality services in the participating countries. ABC initiative has delivered four objectives and its corresponding directions. These are:1.SLT Curricula Design and Development Through the joint effort, the project experts and participants ensured development and or enhancement of SLT curricula ensuring provision of modern trends related to the SLT field according to the international associations (CPLOL and others) of the Speech and Language Therapists’ competency framework for the profession. The SLT content development process covered the activities related to developing working groups, study visits and Training for Trainers (ToT), development of materials and activities for trainings, courses and program (thematic modules), and practical placements for professional advancement.2.SLT Curricula PilotSLT Curricula Pilot has been held at various levels of higher education. Each SLT thematic module respected the requirements of the corresponding level of education and the needs of the SLT learners. This was realized through co-teaching and visits of EU colleagues. The piloting has led to the mainstreaming and institutionalization measures of the newly designed and piloted modules in the University study plan with actions like certification and accreditations on the corresponding levels matching with the country specific regulations. Project results are embedded in and supported by the beneficiary institutions. As complementary, master’s degree student exchange component contributed to further enhance of professional skills.3.Application of modern teaching methodologyTo ensure application of modern teaching methodology has been one of the key objectives alongside of the essential component of the content design and piloting of the SLT modules.4.Dissemination of the SLT contemporary issuesDissemination of the contemporary issues to the broader public has been the core component for the improvement on the SLT service provision level. In addition, to strengthen the SLT field, Professional Ethics and Standards were introduced in Georgia. The Final International Conference and open-lectures for specialists and parents, short videos, media activities further contributed to joint undressing on SLT in regional countries.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 998416 Eur

Project Coordinator

ILIA STATE UNIVERSITY & Country: GE

Project Partners

• STEP FORWARD UNION
• JAVNA USTANOVA UNIVERZITET U TUZLI UNIVERSITAS STUDIORUM TUZLAENSIS
• UNIVERZITET U ISTOCNOM SARAJEVU
• UNIVERSITY OF HAIFA
• GORDON ACADEMIC COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
• ONO ACADEMIC COLLEGE ASSOICATION
• RIJKSUNIVERSITEIT GRONINGEN