The Institute of special pedagogy of the National Academy of Pedagogical Sciences of Ukraine carries out activity towards strengthening and widening of international connections.
The Treaty “About the common scientific research and collaboration basis in the field of Special Education” with Alberta and Grant MacEwan Universities (Canada) is concluded by the Institute of special pedagogy of the National Academy of Pedagogical Sciences of Ukraine.
According to the treaty the Canadian-Ukrainian system of researches Canada-Ukraine Research team (CURT) is created. The priority directions of CURT activity are:
• Common researches realization, innovative scientific projects application;
• Advanced experience and contemporary tendencies widening in the Special Education branch;
• The program of scientists and post-graduates probation period;
• Common arrangements (scientific-practical conferences, seminars, etc) carrying;
The range of arrangements was realized. Their goal was experience exchange on teaching of children with psychophysical disabilities matters. Among them are:
• The International Conference “Contemporary tendencies of Special Education development” (Ukrainian-Canadian experience), Kyiv, 2004.
• The Round table “All in one: civil society is inclusion”, Kyiv, 2005.
• The scientific seminar for postgraduates and young scientists “The international standards of thesis works and international requirements to scientific editions”, Kyiv, 2005.
• On-line conferences with colleagues from Grant MacEwan and Alberta Universities (Canada) during 2005 year.
On the photo: participants of the International conference “Contemporary tendencies of Special Education development” (Ukrainian-Canadian experience), Kyiv, 2004.
Realization of the large-scale Canadian-Ukrainian project (2008-2013) “The inclusive education of children with special needs in Ukraine” is going on. It is supported by Canadian Agency of International development (CIDA). This project is an important event in the educational space, and has got an exceptional social value.
In the frames of this project it is foreseen the legal base normalization according to the international documents on education of children with psychophysical disabilities of development matters; inclusive schools net creation; qualified pedagogical staff preparation for the work in inclusive education establishments; changes concerning society attitude to people with psychophysical disabilities of development.
During 2009, in the project frames, it was realized the work under the directions of:
1. Preparation of secondary establishments’ teachers on the inclusive education matters.
Three educational-practical seminars took place (“Inclusive education philosophy. The comfortable environment creation”, 23-24.03.2009; “Assessment process implementation, and individualized program planning elaboration”, 21-22.2009; “Differentiated teaching in inclusive classes”, 27-29.10.2009) in the frames of a course “The inclusive education model realization”, organizational meetings based on the school-lyceum №3 in Simferopol city. The staff of the training team: pedagogues, psychologists, social pedagogues, teacher’s assistants of this school, specialists of teaching-rehabilitation centers and preschool establishments. In the frames of seminars there were held presentations, training activities and observation in classes, individual consultations and school leader group sessions with a purpose of discussing questions concerning children with special needs.
2. Inclusive education courses elaboration and application for higher educational establishments and institutes of post-qualifying pedagogical education.
The structure, content, list of recommended literature of the course “Introduction to the inclusive education” for higher educational establishments and institutes of post-qualifying pedagogical education on the basis of generalized world experience with responsiveness of national educational system characteristics.
The scientific-practical seminar “Inclusive education courses elaboration and application in educational establishments: Canadian and Ukrainian experience” (Lviv, 2-6.03.2009) was held with participation of Canadian scientists.
Educational-practical seminars for teachers of higher educational establishments were held in Crimean engineer-pedagogical university (Simferopol, 20-21.2009) and Ivan Franco National University (Lviv, 15-16.12.2009).
3. Elaboration of Legislative framework and mechanisms of application of inclusive education.
The Conception of inclusive education is elaborated. Its basis consists of principals which were emphasized in international documents, ratified by Ukraine.
4. An important direction of scientific work is the Ukrainian Sign Language research and application. The project of the Conception of Sign Language learning is elaborated. Consultations for pedagogues are held in experimental schools, and include questions of Sign Language learning and using in inclusive classes.
5. The probation work of young scientists was continued. A senior researcher from speech-language pathology department Danilavichiutie Eliana attended Edmonton, Canada (14.09.09-25.10.2009). Canadian colleagues created a program of her visit, and gave a possibility to make the most efficient use of time there. This program included several directions: characteristics of post-secondary education; characteristics of secondary education; theoretical basis of teaching and learning in Special Education area. Such experience can be useful for common researches organization, and Ukrainian researches improving as well.
On the photo: Institute employees among Canadian colleagues
In the frames of collaboration
• Collaboration with Russian colleagues in accordance to the agreement about collaboration with the Institute of developmental pedagogy;
• Participation in activity of “Ukrainian - Canadian alliance for deaf and hard of hearing”;
On the photo: the Canadian employee N. Liubchenko and the Director Deputy on research work of the Institute of special pedagogy of the NAPS of Ukraine A. Kolupajeva
• Collaboration with Mary Grzhezhanovska Academy of special pedagogy (Poland);
• Contacts with the International European organization of persons with visual impairments;
• Communication with colleagues from different countries, in particular, Poland, Israel, Italy.
