Author: Katherine Wimpenny 13th November 2015
Jacqueline Cawston and Katherine Wimpenny recently went to Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Tetouan Morocco to present at the SWING (Sustainable Ways to Increase Higher Education Students’ Equal Access to Learning Environments), International Conference on “Technology-Based Accessibility for Higher Education Disabled Students”. The DMLL is the lead partner in this project, this two-day conference saw the bringing together of many of the partners who have worked together so well on this two year Tempus funded project.
The overarching aim of the project was to bring together partner expertise to share best practice to support students with disabilities in accessing and optimising their chance of succeeding in higher education through the use of assistive technologies.
The conference started with a national focus on disability and employability, the second day presented the overview of the SWING project, including the key findings and project realisations from all the partners, including project coordinators representing UAE, Morocco, Alicante University Spain, the Arab Academy for Science & Technology & Maritime Transport, Alexandria, Egypt, Bologna University, Italy, and Four Elements institution, Athens, Greece.
The event was well attended with the Vice Chancellors from both Moroccan Universities present, as well as students, representatives from the public and private sectors, and government ministers.
The highlight of the last day of conference was when a representative from the Ministry announced that legislation had been approved to help people with disabilities with scholarships at all levels of education, further, that money would be available to buy equipment for disabled people, that centres would be set up to provide guidance and advice for disabled people, and that changes in bureaucracy will occur so that disabled people do not have to go through hospital checks every time they need any assistance. So SWING has brought about significant policy change in Morocco!! This is an incredible outcome from the project, which we will be disseminating widely.
The hospitality we received was wonderful; it was a great conference event! Our partners at the Arab Academy for Science & Technology & Maritime Transport, Alexandria, Egypt, will be hosting the next SWING dissemination event 9 – 11th November, 2015. We look forward to this event and what further changes SWING can promote for disabled students in higher education.