NEW PROFESSIONAL BACHELOR'S STUDY PROGRAMME “SPECIAL EDUCATION” AT REZEKNE ACADEMY OF TECHNOLOGIES

Abstract

Implementation of the ESF project “Reduction of Fragmentation of Study Programmes and Strengthening of Resource Sharing by Developing and Licensing the Bachelor's Study Programme “Special Education” and Accrediting the Study Direction “Education, Pedagogy and Sport” (No. 8.2.1.0/18/1/003) has started in September 2019. The aim of the project: in cooperation with University of Latvia (LU), Daugavpils University (DU), Liepaja University (LiepU), to develop and license the study programme "Special Education" and accredit the study direction "Education, Pedagogy and Sport" that includes the developed study programme in order to reduce the fragmentation of study programmes in Latvia’s higher education institutions and strengthen the sharing of resources. In order to achieve the aim, a working group of experts - delegates of four higher education institutions (Rezekne Academy of Technologies (RTA), DU, LU, LiepU) – has been set up. In cooperation with the expert of special education implementation issues in Latvia and the EU and the expert of study programme development issues, the group mutually exchanges experience on development and implementation of special education study programmes and gets acquainted with the competence approach and the experience of competent foreign universities in the field of inclusive education implementation and training of special education teachers. The working group works on developing, licensing and approbating the Bachelor's study programme "Special Education" that is going to correspond to the needs of the education system in Latvia and the principles of sustainable planning.