From a disciplinary approach to the culture of inclusion: the role of the Department of Education Studies of the University of Bologna in the project "Inlcusive education for children with disabilities in Kosovo"

Particularly over the past decade, the Department of Education Studies of the University of Bologna has consolidated its role in education and consulting in the field of socio-educational interventions in international cooperation. In different contexts and with different social stakeholders, the common purpose has always been to foster the development of autonomy and construction of aware identities by the inhabitants and communities in the project territories. In the latest project, funded by Save The Children Italia Onlus and the Italian Development Cooperation, from 30/11/2012-30/04/2013, generally aimed to contribute to the inclusion of more vulnerable groups in the economic and social life of Kosovo, starting from school. With 50% of the population aged under 25, the implementation of quality inclusive education starting from pre-school age for all citizens, whatever their ethnic, social belonging, their disability/ies, represents a priority for the Government for the development and democratisation of the country. A specific objective is to guarantee access to quality preschool and primary education for children with disabilities in 8 municipalities of the 7 regions of Kosovo. The operational plan of the project was based on the cooperation between Save the Children, the MEST “Minister of Education, Science and Technology” of the Republic of Kosovo, the Faculty of Education of the University of Prishtina and the Department of Education Studies of the University of Bologna with the aim of: - implementing the “Strategic plan for organizing inclusive education for children with special educational needs in pre-university education in Kosovo”, drafted by the MEST; - providing technical support to the MEST and the University of Prishtina for drafting a teacher training plan for teachers and support teachers, based on inclusive education (establishment of a Master Course of Inclusive Education; renewal of the Preschool Programme and Primary Education Programme with a view to social inclusion); - viewing and knowledge of the Bologna degree programme for support teachers; - activating and supporting a process of renewal in teacher training, recalling the social function of school and professionalism which may be a factor for innovation in the quality of course contents in new training courses and social policies.