Ilia State University is one of the leading public research higher education institutions in Georgia. ISU was established in 2006, after it united six different Georgian institutions and since then it has been the flagship HEI of the country. ISU aims to provide high-quality education and it strives for the development of liberal society and sustainable future. Research is encouraged at ISU as the core higher education activity and the strategy to recruit and retain the best academics and researchers is in place. It has attracted well-known high quality academic staff not only at home, but also from abroad. ISU closely collaborates with foreign colleagues and foundations and appreciates the help that comes from this collaborative network. In addition to the external funding that ISU receives, mostly from the EU and the United States, the university allocates approximately 8% of its annual budget for conducting the planned research activities and it is the highest share of funds allocated for such activities amongst the Georgian public universities.
The leadership remains open to innovative teaching and learning programs and supports research initiatives to finance research activities (significant allocation for research as part of its annual budget), justly occupying the top research citation index in Georgia. With the highest competition rate for PhD programs in the nation (10 applicants per place), approximately 15,000 students, 988 highly qualified academic staff, and with renovated research infrastructure in several Georgia’s regions (including 29 large and small scale research institutes, centers and stations), ISU has become one of the most desirable universities to study and work for in the country.
The Georgian Institute of Public Affairs (GIPA) was created in 1994. The Institute’s four individual schools offer BA and MA programs as well as training courses in the spheres of Public Affairs, Local Governance, Journalism, International Affairs and Law alongside a PhD program in Social Sciences.
The teaching curricula, which is founded on the principles of liberal democracy, freedom of speech and innovation, offer students theoretical knowledge as well as practical skills through the integration of research and interactive teaching. GIPA is a national center for the development of best practices in Public Administration, Social Sciences, Law, Politics and Journalism in Georgia.
Apart from the graduate degree and certified training programs, GIPA carries out many successful research and training projects and manages the first English-language and student-run Radio GIPA.
GIPA has four schools and two departments:
- School of Government
- Caucasus School of Journalism and Media Management
- School of Law and Politics
- School of Social Sciences
- Research Department
- Georgian Rural Development Department
GIPA is:
An advocate of progress, new achievements and innovations – It stands out by its relentless strive for progress and novelties wherefore it steadily outpaces the approaches and trends followed in the country.
A center of western education, culture and values – It plays an important role in promoting the western education, culture and values which involves cultivating critical thinking skills, ensuring the top quality of the teaching process, equipping students with an adequate set of skills and knowledge that duly reflects the demands of the present-day labour market.
An important ally in the state development process – a) it holds valuable expertise and competence and plays an important part in shaping public opinion. Therefore, cooperation with the university is beneficial for the government as well as the civil sector. B) University alumni find employment on the leading positions and contribute to the formation of progressive ideas, approaches and trends in the country.
BSU was founded in 1923 as a Pedagogical Institute in the Adjara region of GEO. In 1990 BSU was established as a HEI academic institution Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University. Today it comprises of 9 faculties: Faculty of Humanities, Faculty of Education, Faculty of business and Economics, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Health Care, Faculty of Physics-Mathematics and Computer Sciences, Technological faculty, It also has several research institutes. At present over 6 000 students study at the vocational, Bachelor, Master and Doctoral programs. The teaching and research processes involve 269 professors, 40 researchers and about 200 visiting professors. BSU offers wide range of options to students at all three stages of education: there are about 41 vocational certification studies, 44 Bachelor Degrees, 24 Master Degrees, and 15 doctoral Degrees. Since 2013 the Faculty of Education advances academic and scholarly path independently, administering the Centre of Languages and Information Technologies, the Centre of Teachers’ Lifelong Mastering and Professional Development and the Centre of Pre-admission Training.
The Georgian Portage Association is a public non-profit, non-governmental organisation that works with special needs children and their families from a pre-school age (from birth). It has 10 years experience in field of early intervention and inclusive preschool education. The Georgian Portage Association is a member of the International Portage Association. Currently the Association has 16 Home Visitors with Latvian National Portage Association certificates working in Tbilisi, visiting 96 special needs children and their families. As a non-governmental organization, GPA has been able to begin implementation of this USA originating educational scheme, which is acknowledged and used world-wide. A trained Portage Home Visitor together with the parents draws up a teaching plan and visits the child at home each week to teach a new skill. Parents are fully involved in the teaching process and practice the given tasks with the child daily. In addition, the Centre offers a Sensory Room, Music and Play Therapy, using the latest equipment and Technologies. These give the opportunity for the children to participate in individual and group activities. The idea of social inclusion of children at early age is rather important for Portage. Since 2007Portage runs several project funded through UNICEF and OSI to enhance and promote inclusive education in Georgian Kindergartens. In 2012-2015 Portage participated in EU funded project ASPIRE (Access to Society for Persond with Individual Requirments). Since 2013 Portage in Partnership with Ilia State University and Open Society – Georgia, works on a project aiming promote modern trends and requirments of Speech and Language Profession in Georgia.
Step Forward (SF) is a non-entrepreneurial, non-commercial, legal entity founded in 2003. The organization implemented over 25 projects funded by EU, USAID, Oxfam GB, Oxfam-Novib and OSI/OSGF. SF is a reputable organization among beneficiaries and local governmental entities. Staffed with qualified specialists, SF employs 14 people, 5 of whom are full-time. SF works primarily with socially vulnerable population including youth, women, children with disabilities and IDPs. SF is one of the leading organizations and service provider NGOs on issues related to Hearing Impaired Children (HIC) and enjoys long-term successful cooperation with national and local governmental agencies. The aim of the organization is to strengthen access to quality healthcare services; prevention of diseases; promotion of healthy lifestyle and advocacy of the needs/rights of HIC.
Since its foundation, for already 12 years, SF has closely worked with local primary healthcare providers, thereby contributing to their professional development. The organization has been involved in several research and analysis projects of state healthcare services as well as in awareness raising campaigns on health risks and mass screening of target communities.
The University in Tuzla is a third public institution and significant economic and cultural driving force in Tuzla Canton region. It offers 44 study programs and majors at 13 faculties and enrols around 18,000 students. There are 600 tenured and assistant professors employed full time while additional 330 tenured and assistant professors are involved in teaching and scientific activities on a part-time basis. Some of the activities carried out at the University within the Reform of Higher Education in BiH are harmonization of the curricula and syllabi in accordance with the Bologna standards and ECTS credit allocation. The University gives a high priority to the establishment of a stimulating and supporting environment for both for student learning. The University is the only one higher education institution in BiH, where educated professionals work with individuals with special needs and disabilities.
The University of East Sarajevo is an independent and self-governing public institution, consisting of the 15 faculties and the two academies.
Strategic objectives are the raising the quality level of study, followed by participation in international scientific research projects, as well as other types of projects in the field of higher education, folding bilateral general and specific agreements with universities in the country and the world, the mobility of students and staff development activities related to international educational projects, and membership in international networks and institutions / organizations.
The University of East Sarajevo has over 50 bilateral agreements signed with partner universities from Europe and Russia. These bilateral agreements regulate different types of cooperation, such as work on subjects and projects of common interest, exchange of scholars and students, joint publications, exchange of information and other activities in order to improve the academic cooperation.
Certain faculties of the University of East Sarajevo have also a number of bilateral agreements signed with their partner faculties abroad.
The University of East Sarajevo is a member of several university networks and international associations.
University of Haifa is the largest comprehensive research University in the north of Israel, with 18,000 students in 6 Faculties and 52 academic departments. The mission of the University is to conduct research at the highest international level and to prepare the coming generations of scholars, professionals and citizens for Israeli democracy. Haifa University has launched an ambitious program of internationalization that includes receiving more than 1000 foreign students in mobility programs annually, sending an increasing number of students abroad, and launching 20 new international graduate programs, which constitute the leading English language platform in Israel for double degree collaborations.
The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Haifa offers a single major BA program (3.5 academic years) and an MA program (2 academic years) in Speech, Language, Communication and Audiology. The program offers core theoretical studies complemented by an extensive clinical training program.
Established in 1953 and is accredited to bestow the B.Ed. and M.Ed. degrees. Located in Haifa, GACE serves Israel’s northern peripheral areas and populations. GACE is a multicultural institution and its 2,500 students and over 250 faculty members represent the ethnic, religious and cultural groups of Israel’s North (Jews, Muslims, Christians, and Druse). Dedicated to excellence in teacher training and involvement in the community, GACE was the first teaching college in Israel to establish a Multicultural Educational Resource Center -MERC. Its goals include training teachers in cultural diversity and developing educational programs which promote pluralistic values and leadership based on mutual respect and understanding, and enhance attitudes of tolerance and co-existence among different groups in Israel. GACE has implemented community programs in Israel that include a mentoring program for Ethiopian Children, tolerance educational programs in Hebrew and in Arabic speaking schools, a program that empowers Ethiopians to be teachers in Israel. GACE also has experience in international collaboration. Since 2002 it has been involved in the training staff and experts in special education in the Ukraine (Dnepropetrovsk-Haifa-Boston tri-city project) on numerous topics in special education including : literacy, mathematics, animal therapy, speech therapy, art therapy, sex education for children with special needs, working with autisitc children, dance therapy and more.
Ono Academic College was established in 1995 as a private, non-profit academic institution and has set two principal goals:
- Developing and studying applied academic programs, which will enable graduates to integrate directly in the labor market, while maintaining the highest level of academic standards and teaching quality.
- Giving top priority to the social problems of the State of Israel, by finding solutions for various sectors of the population, providing the opportunity for higher academic studies and, as a result, the ability to play an active role in the Israeli work force.
Developing social sensitivity and awareness to the needs of one’s community is an integral part of training future academics.
Over 8,500 students participate in the various study courses at Ono Academic College -the undergraduate program in Law (LLB) and the undergraduate and graduate programs in Business Administration (BA and MBA) with a variety of specializations: Marketing and Advertising, Finance, Information Systems Analysis, Accounting and Human Resources Management. The Faculty of Health Professions was opened in 2008, already gaining reputation in Israel and abroad. The School of Music was opened a few years ago, and the Faculty of Education is the most recent academic expansion of the college.
The University of Groningen was founded in 1614 in the Netherlands. It has over 28,200 students and 4,900 staff and an annual turnover of € 576 million. The university enjoys an international reputation as a leading research university. Its wide range of degree programmes covers the Bachelor, Master, and PhD levels. Research and knowledge, combined with an interdisciplinary approach form the basis of its programmes, taught by passionate scholars. The degrees awarded are all internationally acknowledged. The university has the following faculties: Arts, Behavioural and Social Sciences, Economics & Business, Law, Mathematics & Natural Sciences, Medical Sciences, Philosophy, Spatial Sciences, Theology & Religious Studies. Of the thousands of universities in the world, the University of Groningen belongs to the top 100. Furthermore, the University of Groningen belongs to the top 25 of European universities. According to the German Centre for Higher Education Development (CHE), the University of Groningen is a member of the so-called Excellence Group of the best universities in Europe. The union of teaching and research has always been a key ingredient in the university’s concept, recently embodied in Graduate Schools. In a work environment that rewards quality and achievement, the university offers balanced study and research paths that vary in intensity to encourage everyone to draw on their individual talents. This is also expressed by scholarships for talented international students and researchers, in particular from developing countries.
The Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences (ERF) of the University of Zagreb, founded in 1962,is the only higher education institution in the Republic of Croatia that creates and offers university-level programs in speech-language-hearing pathology, special educationand social pedagogy – behaviour disorders, in addition to developing and advancing high-quality research as well as clinical best practices in these areas.
The Faculty aims to become an internationally visible institution of higher education, recognized for its excellence in education and research as well as professional influence on the society in which it operates.The core activities of the Faculty are scientific-research in the above mentioned fields and professional training at the university level – undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate (PhD study and Specialization); organization and implementation of the lifelong learning programs; management of scientific and professional conferences; publishing activities;
Polytechnic Institute of Porto (P.PORTO), created in 1985, is the largest Polytechnic in Portugal, occupying also the first position in the ranking of Polytechnics and the first places in the ranking of National Higher Education along with the main Portuguese universities as far as number of students, placements and candidates’ first choice. It is a dynamic institution at the level of scientific publications and projects, mainly as far as special projects of internationalization and mobility are concerned. P.PORTO considers its mission to lead of Polytechnic subsystem in Portugal, taking its social responsibility to the community and society, in a referential international frame, demanding therefore excellence. Over the past 32 years, P.Porto has built and solidify a universe composed of various units and services. The submission of this application to a mobility project with partner countries was based on the knowledge of the proposed institutions, existing partnerships and common projects.
The School of Health (ESS) of P.Porto is the largest Portuguese higher education institution in the area of healthcare technologies. With its 2,200 students, 312 teaching staff members, 12 undergraduate degrees, seven masters’ degrees and several continuing education courses, ESS is the third biggest in P.PORTO. Real-life contextual learning is highly valued as can be seen in the weight given to credits awarded for such learning activities – about one third – as well as in the community outreach policy, manifest both in the provision of actual healthcare services and the setting up of training labs. ESS promotes a diversified educational offer and a supportive environment for research and innovation activities. The high employability rate of their graduates and the international recognition of foreign employing institutions contribute to make this School one of the most applied to in the healthcare area.
University of Aveiro is a young university, founded in 1973, with over 15000 full-time students (graduate and postgraduate). The University has a strong research profile, a unique model of governance (16 Departments, 4 Polytechnic Schools and various training centres), acting as a regional network for education and training promoting strong links with the surrounding community and was a pioneer in launching degrees in new subject areas. The BMD structure is fully implemented and learning outcomes are introduced. Recognition of prior learning is also implemented, for those who do not have the formal entrance requirements. The University is a member of the European Consortium of Innovative Universities and was one of the first institutions to be granted the ECTS label in 2004, with this distinction having been renewed in 2009 and 2013 and the Diploma Supplement Label also awarded in 2013. UA participates in 3 ERASMUS MUNDUS Joint Masters programmes and 2 ERASMUS MUNDUS joint doctorate programmes. UA also runs several joint doctoral programmes with other Portuguese Universities. It has also signed an agreement as one of the Portuguese institutions to participate in the programme of collaboration between Portugal and Carnegie Mellon University for the development of postgraduate programmes and research in the field of ICT (Information and Communication Technologies). At the same time, the collaboration between the Telecommunications Institute (IT) and the Physics sector with Siemens is an example of the way in which the university has encouraged both innovation and commercialisation linked to research. It has also provided resources for its research policy through funding and the provision of high quality researchers.
Centro Hospitalar E Universitario De Coimbra E.P.E is an empresarial public entity, integrated in the network for the provision of health care of the Portuguese National Health Service. It has the mission of providing high quality health care and differentiation in a context of training, education, research , scientific knowledge and innovation, establishing itself as a national and international reference in areas considered as poles of excellence.
It is a center that is distinguished by quality care, research capabilities, innovation and teaching with a positive impact in the community, ensuring the efficiency and overall sustainability in the medium and long term.CHUC is an integral element , since November 2015 , of the M8 Alliance.
In terms of Speech and Language Therapy, CHUC has many experienced professionals working in different services, namely : 4 SLT in Rehabilitation Service (2 intervening with adults and 2 with children with acquired communication and swallowing disorders), 4 SLT in the Otorrinolaringology Service (1 with adults and 3 with children with hearing and voice disorders) and 4 SLT in Pediatric Service (Intervening with children with developmental disorders).
ARCIL is a not for profit organization from the central region of Portugal, working in the field of disability and inclusion for more than 40 years. With its large structure ARCIL supports approximately 1000 individuals with different types of disability yearly, throughout different stages of their lives; from childhood to adulthood.
ARCIL has various rehabilitation and habilitation services, namely early intervention support to children and families, inclusive education projects, vocational and professional training for people with disability, occupational centres for adults with moderate to profound intellectual disability, protected employment social enterprises, open labor market integration services and residential support for individuals and families with disability. It is also an organization that has been pioneering in the delivery of innovative training in its field, as well as cooperating with universities in research, professional training and development in the fields of Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Psychology and Social Service.
Professionals from ARCIL have been participating in entrepreneurial projects nationally and internationally, namely with professionals from The United States of America, The Netherlands, The United Kingdom, Turkey, Brazil, Cap-Vert, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, and Bulgaria. ARCIL has been cooperating internationally with diverse organizations and is a member of the European Association of Service Providers for Persons with Disabilities (EASPD).