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Open University – a comprehensive accessibility support programme at MANS

A comprehensive project improving accessibility at MANS for people with specific needs across eight areas of university operations.

European Funds for Social Development, Republic of Poland, co-funded by the European Union (Polish-language funding logos)

About the project

We are pleased to announce that MANS has received funding for the project entitled “ OPEN University – a comprehensive programme supporting accessibility at the International Academy of Applied Sciences in Łomża”

The project is financed by the European Union under the European Funds for Social Development programme, Priority FERS.03.00, Measure FERS.03.01.

Project outcomes

  • The Academy will implement solutions to improve accessibility in 8 areas.
  • Enhanced skills for 120 Academy employees in accessibility and disability (confirmed by certificates, tests and attestations).
  • Adaptation of at least one facility at the Academy to the needs of people with disabilities.
  • Establishing long-term procedures and structures supporting people with disabilities, including consultants, designated representatives, digital services and assistive technologies.

Outputs

  • New organisational structures: an accessibility team and coordinators for architectural and digital accessibility.
  • IT systems: a virtual university, electronic student ID cards, a digital library, and scholarship and accounting systems.
  • Physical accessibility solutions: Braille signs, hearing loops, tactile plans and modernised entrances.
  • Training materials and internal procedures adapted to the needs of people with disabilities.
  • A catalogue of education support services: for example, psychological consultations and equipment loans.
  • Accessibility standards and evaluation reports.

Project implementation start date: 2024-09-01

Project implementation end date: 2028-08-31

Project objective

The main objective of the project is to improve access to education at the International Academy of Applied Sciences in Łomża (hereinafter: MANS) for people with particular needs, including people with disabilities, by removing barriers to education in the following areas: organisational structure, architectural accessibility, information and communication accessibility, digital accessibility, assistive technologies, procedures, education support services and disability awareness training, during the period from 01.09.2024 to 31.08.2028.

PROJECT TASKS:

  1. Improving accessibility at MANS in Łomża in area 1: Organisational structure
  2. Improving accessibility at MANS in Łomża in area 2: Architectural accessibility
  3. Improving accessibility at MANS in Łomża in area 3: Information and communication accessibility
  4. Improving accessibility at MANS in Łomża in area 4: Digital accessibility
  5. Improving accessibility at MANS in Łomża in area 5: Technologies
  6. Improving accessibility at MANS in Łomża in area 6: Procedures
  7. Improving accessibility at MANS in Łomża in area 7: Education support services
  8. Improving accessibility at MANS in Łomża in area 8: Disability awareness activities

TOTAL PROJECT EXPENDITURE: PLN 4,999,981.50

EUROPEAN FUNDING: PLN 4,849,982.05

OWN CONTRIBUTION: PLN 149,999.45

Support schedule

The support schedule will be published progressively as support dates are planned.

We encourage you to make use of the support available. The following staff are at your disposal:

Rector's Representative for People with Disabilities – Paulina Sadurska, Master's degree – Thursday, Friday, Saturday/Sunday

Teaching Consultant – Karolina Żebrowska, Master's degree – Thursday, Friday, Saturday/Sunday

Technology Support Specialist – Bartosz Chetnicki, Master's degree – Thursday, Friday, Saturday/Sunday

or at other times by prior arrangement

We also encourage you to share ideas and needs that will help us make the Academy's infrastructure more welcoming to people with different disabilities. Please contact the architectural accessibility coordinator, Director Zdzisław Rogowski, for this purpose.

PLEASE NOTE

Please be advised that suspected non-compliance of the project or the beneficiary's activities with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Journal of Laws of 2012, item 1169, as amended) may be reported to the Managing Authority (the minister responsible for regional development) or the Intermediate Body (the National Centre for Research and Development) by traditional post or via the ePUAP electronic submission service.

News

Staff recruitment is now open

We invite staff to register for training. The following forms of support are available:

  1. Training on awareness and skills relating to digital accessibility for management and teaching staff – 6 hours
  2. Training: “What makes a university accessible? Values, opportunities and attitudes that help create an inclusive academic environment” for management, teaching staff and accessibility unit employees – 8 hours
  3. Training: “Universal design and the 7 principles of educational support in practice” for all employees – 8 hours
  4. Training: “Hidden disabilities and discrimination. How can we recognise what is not visible?” for all employees – 8 hours
  5. Training: “Introduction to inclusive design for lecturers and administrative staff. How can we create teaching materials (presentations, handouts and e-learning courses) that are accessible to diverse student groups? The WCAG standard and human-centred design in practice” for all employees – 24 hours
  6. Training: “Without any limits” – adapting English language teaching to the needs of people with disabilities, for foreign language teachers – 8 hours

New disability-friendly equipment at MANS: We are becoming better equipped to meet the needs of people with disabilities. Thanks to the project, students with disabilities can use the equipment purchased, namely a hearing loop and laptops. Please contact reception if you need to use these devices.

A portable hearing loop displaying the ear symbol and the letter T.
An open Dell laptop with a keyboard and touchpad.
A Tobii Dynavox PCEye 5 eye-tracking device for computer control, in its open packaging.
Headphones and a receiver for testing a hearing loop.

Introducing our project. Please contact us if you are interested.

The project takes a comprehensive, systemic approach. Its main objective is to adapt the International Academy of Applied Sciences in Łomża to the needs of people with disabilities and people with particular needs. Implementation will involve activities in 8 areas of accessibility, in line with the Accessible University Model (MDU). The project duration is 3 years.

Project objectives

  1. Improving the Academy's accessibility for people with disabilities in architectural, digital, and information and communication terms.
  2. Strengthening Academy employees' skills in working with people with particular needs.
  3. Establishing lasting organisational structures and procedures that support accessibility and equal access to education.
  4. Ensuring high-quality education for all students, regardless of their health, psychological or social needs.

Project outcomes

  1. Adapting the Academy to the needs of people with disabilities:
    • At least one Academy building will be adapted to the needs of people with disabilities.
    • Key infrastructure elements will be installed or modernised (ramps, lifts, toilets, Braille signage and hearing loops).
  3. Developing the Academy's organisational structure:
    • Establishing an Accessibility Team and appointing an accessibility representative and coordinators for digital and architectural accessibility.
  5. Enhancing staff skills:
    • Training 120 employees (including administrative, teaching and technical staff) in working with people with disabilities.
  7. Improving digital accessibility:
    • Adapting the website and e-learning platforms to the WCAG 2.1 standard.
    • Launching IT systems to support student processes (electronic student ID cards, admissions, scholarships, placements and surveys).
  9. Improving communication and student services:
    • Introducing accessible forms, instructions, guides and education support services (including an educational assistant, a psychologist and a Polish Sign Language interpreter).

Outputs delivered through the project

  • Physical infrastructure adaptations (building modernisation, ramps, Braille signs and hearing loops).
  • IT systems supporting the Academy's operations:
    • Modules: admissions, electronic student ID cards, virtual university, scholarship system, and placement and internship system.
  • Organisational structures and documentation:
    • Internal accessibility procedures and regulations.
    • Reports and assessments of the needs of people with disabilities.
    • An online knowledge base.
  • A package of educational and support services:
    • Assistive equipment loans.
    • Sign language interpreting and educational assistant services.
    • Adapted teaching materials and methods.
  • Training and educational materials for Academy employees on working with people with disabilities.
  • An information campaign promoting accessibility.

Project launch:

We are pleased to announce that MANS has signed an agreement to implement the project entitled “OPEN University – a comprehensive programme supporting accessibility at the International Academy of Applied Sciences in Łomża” with the Intermediate Body, the National Centre for Research and Development.

Contact

in person International Academy of Applied Sciences in Łomża ul. Studencka 19, 18-400 Łomża, Room 405

by telephone tel. +48 86 216 94 97

by email: rektorat@mans.edu.pl