HEIs in the Western Balkans region are lacking policy framework, know-how, infrastructure, equipment, technology, as well as education and training to facilitate inclusive education and equity of HE access for SwD and students with learning difficulties. As a consequence, more often than not, high school pupils with disabilities are not only discouraged to continue their studies in Higher Education, but also those enrolled are often forced to drop out at the absence of appropriate support systems. Empirical data gathered from the participating institutions also indicate a rather high drop-out rate among students countering learning difficulties. The Western Balkans region is thus losing an important social and intellectual capital, and is also lagging behind EU developments in equity of access to HE services.

In view of this acute issue, the proposed project’s overall aim is to improve access, establish inclusive education learning conditions and develop employment opportunities for SwD and students with learning difficulties in the Western Balkans. The means to accomplish this overarching aims is building capacities of the Student Service Units, faculty, administration, students and governing bodies of the partner countries’ collaborating HEIs and their respective Ministries of Education, developing modern inclusion practices, assistive technologies and networking, which will also benefit disadvantaged groups in lower educational levels (primary and secondary education).

In order to improve its equity of access overall aim, the project shall work to accomplish the following objectives:

• Create and/or enhance institutional support structures and protocols to enable access to Higher Education and foster the consolidation of a social integration and accessibility culture within partner universities.
• Enhance the managerial and administrative staff capacities of partner HEIs dealing with and implementing inclusive education practices.
• Equip the Disability Support Units with effective and relevant assistive technology.
• Increase external relations cooperation to improve Higher Education access and employment of disabled students.
• Increase public and students’ awareness and understanding on the importance of inclusive education within HE for the society.

The project’s aims and objectives are guided and informed by the following principles:

• Equity, i.e. equal participation in education by passing by inequalities due to social barriers on disability and/or learning difficulties.
• Relevance, meant as HE learning attuned to the particular characteristics, abilities and needs of SwD who have special needs in education.
• Access, implied as the principle by which every SwD or SwLD participates with the same rights and conditions with their peers, through adequate, targeted services.
• Effectiveness, i.e. improving SwD & SwLD HE participation, achievements, graduation rates and gradually removing barriers of biases and stereotypes beliefs in the course of learning.
• Efficiency, meant as the development of individuals and communities appreciating diversity.

• UNIVERSITETI POLIS SHPK (AL)
• UNIVERSITETI ALEKSANDER MOISIU DURRES (AL)
• UNIVERSITETI I MJEKESISE TIRANE (AL)
• UNIVERSETI SHKODRES LUIGJ GURAKUQI (AL)
• FONDACIONI ZOJA E KESHILLIT TE MIRE (AL)
• TURGUT OZAL EDUCATION SHA (AL)
• UNIVERSITETI I PRISHTINES (XK)
• INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS COLLEGE MITROVICA (XK)
• KOLEGJI UNIVERSUM O.P (XK)
• UNIVERZITET DONJA GORICA PODGORICA (ME)
• ETHNIKO KAI KAPODISTRIAKO PANEPISTIMIO ATHINON (GR)
• Masarykova Univerzita (CZ)
• UNIVERSITY OF LIMERICK (IE)
• Albanian Disability Rights Foundation (AL)
• ASSOCIATION OF PARAPLEGICS AND PARALYZED CHILDREN OF KOSOVO (XK)
• UDRUZENJE MLADIH SA HENDIKEPOM CRNE GORE PODGORICA (ME)