جامعة فلسطين التقنية خضوري

Palestine Technical University Kadoorie (PTUK) is a leading governmental university, a hub for scientific research and a center for quality higher education. PTUK has always been committed to serving the Palestinian community and actively engaged in its sustainable development. Since its establishment, PTUK has been committed to the Education for All principle. Thus, Inclusive education and Disability support are its main objectives. PTUK aims at achieving equality in education for disabled students to enable them benefit from its academic programs, and services.

The idea of the Edu4ALL project dates back to 2017 when PTUK signed an agreement with the General Union of Disabled Palestinian (GUDP). The agreement addressed the role of PTUK as a governmental university in rehabilitating people with disabilities as well as providing educational opportunities for them. Statistics showed that about 6064 of the 60.888 students currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in Palestine reported having a disability. Moreover, many Palestinian citizens are not accessing and completing a good quality education, and gaining the foundations for being a productive part of an inclusive society.

While, in Palestine, we have legislation that determines the educational rights and obligations, we believe that there is still a need for greater clarity in our message about the right to genuine good quality education for all including those with disabilities. We believe that delivering quality education to disabled students will be achieved through modernizing our educational system to be inclusive, and learner-friendly educational system.

In order to achieve this goal, the inclusive approach is our key method to follow. That is, following the principle of universal design, which reaches disabled students and raise their awareness. It welcomes and supports all learners in regular education settings; builds their capacity; provides responsive learning opportunities (through flexible and adaptive teaching and learning methods, curricula and assessment systems, within an infrastructure that is accessible, safe and welcoming); and actively strives to challenge and stop discrimination in any form within education (and thus also within society). The institution and classroom will operate on the premise that students with disabilities are as fundamentally competent as students without disabilities. Therefore, all students can be full participants in their classrooms and in the local institution community.

PTUK is the coordinator (main applicant) of the Edu4ALL project and the leader of the management work package. We will participate in all other work packages: Preparation; development, quality control; and Dissemination. We are responsible for monitoring the implementation of the project actions in order to ensure that the action is implemented in accordance with the terms of the agreement; managing the financial issues of the project and cooperating closely with all partners. Also, we are the intermediary for all the communications between the partners and the agency. Additional tasks need to be performed including: coordinating the meetings of the project, forming the project management committees, preparing the project financial administration and reports; and developing the collaboration platform.