International partnership

Erasmus+ Capacity building project

Developing services for Individuals with Disabilities [DECIDE].

DECIDE  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 as in line with Bologna Process and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Objective of DECIDE

The objective of the project lay in three strand implementation of a comprehensive sustainable curriculum in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan for following target groups:

  • Teacher Trainer Educators and Lecturers (Universities)
  • Government & State Employee & Policymakers (Public Administration Educators);
  • NGO (Non-university Educators).

Outputs and outcomes of DECIDE

Training program, constructed from 8 modules (special needs introductory (practical) modules and special needs advanced modules) embedded in curricula of universities, public administration institutes and in special needs NGOs to ensure maximum transfer effect to society at large.

The Access Liaison Officer role will be developed and established at each institution to promote disability access.

National Special Needs Awareness Day will be established by the nationally strategic Action Groups comprised of universities, public administration institutes, Ministries and NGOs.

European partners:

Transilvania University of Brasov (Romania),

Middlesex University (United Kingdom),

Limerick Institute of Technology (Ireland),

Technical University of Dresden (Germany),

University of Crete (Greece)

Grant holder: Transilvania University of Brasov (Romania)

Project implementation period: 2019-2022

Contacts:

Project coordinator at the Academy
Aidana Aldiyarova
Research fellow
Institute of Applied Research
+7 7172 75 10 41
a.aldiyarova@apa.kz

Project’s official website: http://www.decideproject.ie/

Disclaimer: “This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication [communication] reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein”


NEWS ERASMUS+

 

First coordination meeting on EU project Erasmus +

In the period from February 11 to 12, 2019, the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (KazNU) hosted the first coordination meeting on the project “Development of Services for People with Disabilities – DECIDE”, implemented within the framework of the European Union Erasmus + program.
This event was attended by all participants from partner countries: Technical University of Dresden (Germany), Transylvania University in Brasov (Romania), Middlesex University (England), Institute of Technology in Limerick (Ireland), University of Crete (Greece). From the Kazakh side, the participants are Kazakh Agrotechnical University. S. Seifullin, Kostanai State University named after A. Baitursynov, Kazakh National University named after Al-Farabi, the Academy of Public Administration, as well as representatives of universities from Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
During the meeting, the participants had the opportunity to present their university, role of each partner university in the project and met with the project manager and coordinator Angela Renapovich from the University of Transylvania in Brasov.
Further, all project partners presented their universities and teams, indicated their roles in the project, indicating their potential contribution and their needs regarding the project.
As a result of the meeting, a plan of further actions for the implementation of the project was agreed, recommendations were developed for its further promotion. Within the framework of the project, the participants of each partner university will have to develop training modules aimed at facilitating the training of people with special needs.
At the end of the seminar, all participants agreed on the following dates and venues for events and seminars:
– Meeting, Dresden March 24-30, 2019
-Training modules, Limerick from July 22 to August 2, 2019.
– Meeting of all partners in London from November 13 to 15, 2019


Workshop at Dresden University of Technology

On March 25, Mr. Riddel, representative of the Dresden Technical University, introduced the seminar program and the inclusion plan for the Dresden Technical University to the participants. Further, the participants were offered a test to determine the level of English proficiency, as a result of which two groups A and B were formed. At the end of the day, a tour of the university’s library and campus was organized. During the tour, the main attention was paid to how the service for people with disabilities was organized at the Dresden Technical University. Various types of services were demonstrated, such as: video about university; campus navigator, which indicates those buildings that are accessible to people with disabilities (elevators, accessible entrance, etc.).
In the following days, workshops were presented on the topic “Communicative approach to learning”, “Teaching students with autism” and “Using the library: terminology for information literacy and research skills”. Participants were also familiarized with the main legal documents on the international inclusion policy, such as: UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
As a result, the EU partners wanted to convey to the participants what the purpose and results of this project are. They explained that people with disabilities should have access to education, the use of a library, a building (elevators, convenient stairwells for strollers), information (special resources, computer equipment), and support from the state, administration, social workers, etc. .e. they must become part of society on an equal footing with other people.


DECIDE Curriculum Training, July 21st-August 3rd, Limerick, Ireland

Gerry Cullen presented Module 1: English for Specific Purposes (Special Needs and Disability) training and recapped lessons in TUD, module Description and teachers’ records and Module 2: Marketing – Introduction to Theory and Practice – Introduction to Marketing essentials followed by creating National Awareness Campaign Strategies and Supporting NGO Development. This training is targeted at all partners and will be later integrated into official university and public administration and where feasible NGO programmes.
Dr. Manolis Koukourakis presented Module 3: Use the Library: Access to Libraries for people with Special needs and disability. The presentation is focused on the access to libraries for persons with disabilities, the Library Services to People with Special Needs Section and guidelines for easy-to-read materials. The presentation emphasized the role on the open, inclusive library, the role of libraries for inclusive education and the possible path to achieve this outcome.
Prof. dr. Angela Repanovici presented Module 7 Meeting Needs – Physical and Sensory Needs introducing introduce the accessible design and Universal Design for Learning and ways to design and develop course materials for students with disabilities. The presentation explains the existent accommodations and assistive technology.
Gill Whitney, Gurinder Grewal, Mark Springett, Paula Bernaschina, Sukhy Hara presented Module 5 Meeting Needs – Cognition and Learning (including moderate and severe learning difficulties and Dyslexia) and Module 8 – Meeting Needs – Social, Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties.
Presented are the standards on cognitive impairment, web, and European and ISO accessibility that still developing.


Partners’ meeting in London

DECIDE project partners have had an annual meeting in London, Middlesex University from 21st November to 22nd November, 2019.
The meeting agenda has covered the following:
• Introduction and overview of current state of the project.
• Report back from Each Partner as to their current progress.
• The planning of Pilot 1 of the modules.
• The planning of the Evaluation of Pilot 1 if the modules.
• The web site – Required content, plans for creation and uploading.
• The current financial state of the project and financial planning.
• Project management.
• Any other relevant issues as required.
DECIDE project manager from the Academy, Mira Maulsharif has taken a part in this event.


Piloting of Modules 1 and 6

7 February, 2020 at the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Nursultan, piloting of teaching Modules 1 and 6 took place.
For the event, Coordinator of the DECIDE project Angela Repanovici from UTBV (Romania) and Director of the Library Manolis Koukourakis from UOC (Greece) visited the Academy.
Module 1 – English for Specific Purposes (Special Needs and Disability) was developed and presented by external lecturer, Academy staff Guldana Zhumagaliyeva Aim of the Module is to learning the official language for further project management and feasible implementation.
Module 6 – Meeting Needs was lectured by the Academy partner Zhanna Ibrayeva who was explaining learning methods and approaches to communication and Interaction with the audience (disabled).


«National Disability Awareness Day»

On October 9, 2020 the first international scientific-practical conference “Development of inclusion in Kazakhstan: theory and practice”, the National Disability Awareness Day (hereinafter – NAD) was organized and held on relevant issues of inclusion in accordance with the implementation of the international EU ERASMUS + project 598661 “DECIDE” (Developing services for individuals with disabilities) on the basis of S. Seifullin Kazakh Agro Technical University in Nur-Sultan (hereinafter – KATU) together with working groups of partner universities: Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan (Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan), Kazakh National University named after AlFarabi (Almaty, Kazakhstan), A. Baitursynov Kostanay Regional University (Kostanay, Kazakhstan).

In connection with the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, the NAD was held online and presented a very rich program on inclusive education.

The conference moderator is a member of the working group: Saltanat Meiramova – director of the Development of International Cooperation and Multilingual Education Center, coordinator of the KATU project (P9) and country coordinator of the DECIDE project.

The moderator of the plenary session of the conference is a member of the working group: Lilia Sargsyan, professor of the A. Baitursynov KRU (Р11).

The moderator of the panel session of the conference is a member of the working group: Zhanyl Bekmurzayeva (P12).

The moderator of the round table of the conference is a member of the working group: Gainel Usatayeva (P10).

The purpose of the conference was to raise awareness of diversity by creating socially favorable conditions for people with disabilities, creating a communication and discussion platform.

The conference was attended by 116 participants, 30 speakers, including representatives of the Ministry of labor and social protection of the population of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan, EASEA – Erasmus + Agency (Brussels), Director of the National Office of the Erasmus + Program in Kazakhstan, leader of the DECIDE project (Romania), rectors of universities – executors of the DECIDE project, civil servants, representatives of business structures, PhD, master and bachelor students of universities of the Republic of Kazakhstan, 10 representatives of NGOs (non-governmental organizations) and communities of people with disabilities from 3 foreign countries, as well as 10 foreign partners of the DECIDE project from 7 countries of the world.

The conference participants highlighted the social significance of the activities carried out within the framework of the DECIDE project to create an inclusive society and the development of inclusive education at all its levels, the high interest of the project implementers to develop inclusive education in universities and the formation of an inclusive culture among government officials and NGO representatives, as well as a non-discriminatory attitude towards people with disabilities in society.

The conference participants supported the initiative to hold an annual National Day of Awareness on relevant Issues of Inclusion on October 9 and an initiative to include in educational work plans of educational organizations at least 2 times a year thematic class and curatorial hours on the theme “We are different – We are equal – We are together” and various activities aimed at the formation of an inclusive culture with a wide coverage in the media and social networks.

Having heard and discussed the reports and speeches of speakers and participants presented at the plenary session, panel session and round table of the international scientific and practical online conference “Development of inclusion in Kazakhstan: theory and practice” and after analyzing expert opinions of people with disabilities the Resolution of the international conference was adopted which included the following proposals:

– to reflect the development of inclusive education in the policies of subordinate institutions as a priority;

– to include inclusive competence in the qualification requirements of teachers;

– to support the intersectional and interinstitutional cooperation between education, health and social protection authorities, nongovernmental organizations and business structures;

– to develop criteria for assessing the effectiveness of the leaders of educational organizations in the development of inclusive education and the creation of a universal design;

– to provide for the holding in 2021 of the republican scientific and practical conference on the problem of software and methodological support of inclusive education of all forms of education (full-time, distance, mixed);

– to implement, if possible, the discipline “Pedagogy and Psychology of Inclusive Education” in the curricula of all pedagogical specialties;

– to organize advanced training for teachers, administrative staff and other employees on the problem of inclusive education;

-to propose to develop an effective system of vocational guidance, vocational training and retraining of people with disabilities with the aim of their employment;

– to propose to develop an effective system of vocational guidance, vocational training and retraining of people with disabilities with the aim of their employment;

– to intensify the participation of NGOs (non-governmental organizations) in holding the National Awareness Day;

– to propose to consider the issue of accompanying sign language translation of broadcasted programs in a large-scale format

– to propose ensuring the continuity of inclusive education at all levels, from nursery-kindergarten to universities;

-to expand the dialogue platform where all the trends in inclusive education will be discussed, which will serve to raise awareness;

– to use special technology in the educational process, in the development of educational content for people with disabilities;

– to consider the issue of training conductive teachers, occupational therapists, rehabilitation therapists and exercise therapy instructors;

– to consider the issue about including people with disabilities as experts in events at all levels on the topic of inclusion.

#erasmusplus
#KATU
#APAKZ
#KazNU
#KRU

Visit of the European partner of the DECIDE project

 

On October 6, 2021, the Academy hosted a meeting with the DECIDE (Erasmus+) project group and planned training on behalf of the country coordinator, Mr. Mihai Barsan.

At the meeting, questions were raised about the future prospects of the DECIDE training platform, which was developed for comprehensive training support for educational modules.

NATIONAL AWARENESS DAY
ERASMUS+ 598661-EPP-1-2018-1-RO-EPPKA2-CBHE-JP «Developing Services for Individuals with Disabilities» – «DECIDE» PROJECT, CO-FUNDED BY EU 

Date: 3 December 2021
Venue: Zoom Platform

Contribution of the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the co-organization of the event:

PART I. Plenary session

Key Note presentation by Vice-rector for Strategic Development, Research and International Partnership Mrs. Aigul Kosherbayeva

Topic: Collaboration in project implementation

Vice-Rector shared with the results of the work done within the framework of the project and named the main co-partners in the field of:

– government agencies;

– social entrepreneurship and communities;

– experts and coaches.

Demonstrated the Academy’s activity in participating in social projects and provided the results. Dr. Aigul Kosherbayeva summed up her speech by highlighting the procurement procedures and redemption of special equipment, which lead to creation the Assistive Technology Room and the Cabinet for inclusive education.

The speaker emphasized the importance and relevance of the project and congratulated all participants on the National Awareness Day.

PART II. Discussion platform

2.1 Change management in inclusion

Speaker: Prof. Dr. Siegfried Saerberg, ZeDiSplus | Center for Disability Studies and Participation Research.

Guest speaker: Mr. Frithjof Esch, Assistance, ZeDiSplus | Center for Disability Studies and Participation Research.

During the presentation the following key issues were raised (on based of Germany experience):

– Labor Market in inclusion (etc. tailor shops, social entrepreneurs, disability led organizations and freelancers);

– The rights of people with disabilities;

– The social model of disability;

– Government support;

– Successful story of representing themselves on social media.

The last part of presentation (the potential of social media for inclusion and empowerment of people with disabilities) was about the phenomenon that in Europe and the US more and more people with disabilities are successfully representing themselves on social media. In doing so, they often take on the function of so-called influencers. In other words, their appearance changes the perception of disability within society and at the same time it offers a great potential of professional independence. There were given a small overview about the context with disability rights movement and how it might change the movement when the lead goes more to an individual perspective.

With a few short thought-provoking impulses and examples there were discussed a few questions about what role this could play for Central Asia.

Moderator: Ms. Zhanyl Bekmurzayeva, project manager, Head of the International Partnership Office of the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

2.2 «Improvement of the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan in order to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities»

Speaker: Mrs. Kuralai Zharova, Coordinator of the project office “Creating conditions for the economic activity of persons with disabilities” of the Ministry of Population Labor and Social Protection of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Mrs. Kuralai Zharova mentioned the legislative norms of Kazakhstan that were amended to support disabled people socially and economically. She explained the current situation of the legislation and new measures and their expectations. In addition, 32 amendments and additions were made to the Law of Kazakhstan to support social entrepreneurship. Key aspects of her presentation were:

– An allowance has been introduced for citizens caring for people with disabilities of group 1, regardless of the reason.

– Considering the degree of health impairments and disabilities of the child, the law provides for the division of children from 7 to 16 years old according to disability groups.

– Granting the right to concurrent receipt of disability and survivor benefits.

– Provision of technical means and rehabilitation services at the expense of the state to persons who have received disability from work injury, if the employer cannot fulfill obligations.

– Preservation of the right of families raising children with disabilities to queue for housing after reaching the age of majority.

Moderator: Ms. Aidana Aldiyarova, Chief Researcher, Center for Applied Research and International Partnership, Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

 

 

 

 

THE FOLLOWINGS WERE PROPOSED

TO THE NATIONAL AWARENESS DAY RESOLUTION:

  1. To popularize the ideas of an inclusive society, positive examples of education and professional self-realization of persons with disabilities with the active involvement of the media
  2. To contribute to the promotion of the ideas of an inclusive society, the adoption of the principles and priorities of inclusion in society by supporting the implementation of socially-oriented projects together with social entrepreneurs, non-governmental organizations.
  3. To actively involve persons with disabilities and representatives of public associations of persons with disabilities in expert work in the development of draft laws in the field of inclusion.
  4. To conduct active information work at all levels about the measures taken to develop an inclusive society.
  5. To conduct public awareness campaigns that promote a positive image of persons with disabilities and take all measures necessary to remove barriers that prevent or restrict the effective participation of persons with disabilities in society.

 

Summary Record of the Project Management Meeting at the Transilvania University of Brasov co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union [Developing services for Individuals with Disabilities [DECIDE]]

Since 2019 the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan has been participating in the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union [Developing services for Individuals with Disabilities [DECIDE]] in partnership with the Transilvania University of Brasov, Romania and with other national and foreign partners.

The working group of the DECIDE project held its third Project Management Meeting on 23-24 March 2022 at the Transilvania University of Brasov, Romania. The meeting took place in a hybrid format with the following participants: Dresden University of Technology (Germany), Transilvania University of Brasov (Romania), Middlesex University London (UK), Limerick Institute of Technology (Ireland), University of Crete (Greece), Samarkand Institute of Economics and Service (Uzbekistan), Tashkent University of Information Technologies (Uzbekistan), Karakalpak State University (Uzbekistan), Mushtoq Ko’zlar Society of Social Mutual Aid of Disabled Children (Uzbekistan), Khujand State University named after B. Gafurov (Tajikistan), Kulob Institute of Technology and Innovation Management (Tajikistan), Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan (Tajikistan), Public Organisation of Parents with Children with Disabilities and Specialists “Rushdi Inclusia” (Tajikistan). The representatives from Kazakhstan were three universities: S. Seifullin Kazakh Agrotechnical University, A. Baitursynov Kostanay State University and the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Prof. dr. Angela Repanovici, DECIDE Project Leader, gave a short report on the project. All partners presented their activities implemented within the project. The progress report of the Academy of Public Administration on the project was presented by Ms. Aidana Aldiyarova, a research fellow and project coordinator at the Academy, and Ms. Aislu Suleimanova, a chief inspector of the Financial and Economic Department and project accountant at the Academy.

There was a discussion on the preparation for the fourth year and upcoming activities and deliverables. In addition, partners reviewed the financial rules and budget for the DECIDE project and other administrative matters. It was decided that the final project conference will be held in autumn 2022 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

Meeting with social entrepreneur Emin Askerov on inclusive society, April 8, 2022

On April 8, 2022, there was a meeting at the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan with a social entrepreneur, the founder of GreenTAL, Mr. Emin Askerov. It was organized as part of further informing civil servants on developing services for persons with disabilities. The meeting was attended by civil servants from the Akimat (local executive body), employees and students of the Academy.

Mr. Emin Askerov founded the GreenTAL social project in 2015. There are seven areas in the workshop: carpentry, welding and sewing shops, printing to produce image products, decorative direction, felting and department of semi-finished product.

The social workshop provides free education with subsequent employment of vulnerable social group. In 2018, Mr. Emin Askerov founded the School of Social Entrepreneurship. The main goal of the educational project is to teach everyone who is interested in the aspects of social entrepreneurship. At the meeting, he noted the importance of the law on social entrepreneurship, the employment of people with disabilities in the regions, the work of local executive bodies in the development of an inclusive society, and much more. According to Mr. Emin Askerov, there are about 40 social entrepreneurs working in Kazakhstan now.

Pilot 2 of the DECIDE Project

On June 22, 2022, the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan presented the Module 6: Meeting Needs – Communication and Interaction, which was developed by the partners within the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union [Development of services for people with disabilities [DECIDE]].

As part of the event, Mr. Jerald Cavanagh, Ms. Monika Bukowska and Mr. Padraig Kirby from the Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest and Mr. Gerard Cullen and Mr. Sven Riddell from the Technische Universität Dresden visited the Academy. Members of the project working team Ms. Zhanyl Bekmurzayeva, Ms. Elmira Joldybayeva, Ms. Aislu Suleimanova and Ms. Aidana Aldiyarova presented the results of the project.

Ms. Assel Kenzhetayeva, a lecture of the Academy and a member of the project working team, presented the session of the Module 6. The purpose of the module is to form a positive attitude of university trainees towards inclusive education, the ability to work with people with disabilities, the ability to navigate in difficult situations and the solution of problems for people with disabilities.

The meeting with the director of the Institute of Applied Research Ms. Aigul Kosherbayeva held to enhance further cooperation. At the meeting, the partners discussed the significance of activities carried out under the DECIDE Project for formation of inclusive society among civil servants and representatives of NGOs.

Anti-corruption training

The Sector of Anti-Corruption Policy and Ethics, within the framework of advanced training courses for civil servants, held more than 15 seminars on the topic “Anti-corruption management and compliance”, “Anti-corruption expertise of draft regulations”.

Also, more than 100 trainings, seminars, TED Talks, meetings and webinars on anti-corruption topics were held for government bodies, quasi-government, private and non-governmental sectors, as well as 6 courses on the discipline “Ethics in the public service” in a distance format.

More than 20 seminars, meetings, round tables were organized with the participation of Kazakhstani and international experts, representatives of the state, quasi-state and non-governmental sectors.


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