Improving the Quality of Inclusivity in Universities - Key Recommendations
| dc.contributor.author | Zhvania, Irine | |
| dc.contributor.author | Doctor of Psychology, Associate Professor, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University | |
| dc.contributor.author | Abashidze, Tamar | |
| dc.contributor.author | Doctor of Psychology, Associate Professor, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University | |
| dc.contributor.author | Makharadze, Tamar | |
| dc.contributor.author | Doctor of Public Policy, Associate Professor, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University | |
| dc.contributor.author | Kitiashvili, Anastasia | |
| dc.contributor.author | Doctor of Psychology, Professor, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2024-09-16T12:31:10Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2024-09-16T12:31:10Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2024-06-28 | |
| dc.description | Inclusive Education in Georgia – Achievements, Challenges and Perspectives - 2024 Joint Conference of Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University and Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University | |
| dc.description.abstract | The research is based on the results of the project "Teachers for Inclusive Education," conducted in 2021-2023. The project was funded by the Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation of Georgia (№FR-21-3869) and aimed to generate new knowledge about how the environment and study process should be organized in a higher educational institution to ensure quality education and an inclusive university space accessible to everyone. The research was conducted in four state universities of Georgia (TSU, BSU, ATSU, TESAU). Based on the analysis of data recommendations were prepared for the promotion of inclusive education and the improvement of inclusiveness of the university environment. University students, academic and administrative staff participated in the research. It was conducted using mixed methods. The quantitative research involved a survey of students regarding their perceptions of the degree of inclusiveness of their university. The qualitative research included face-to-face interviews with academic and administrative personnel and focus groups to study the perspectives of students with special educational needs (SEN). The instruments used in the research were based on the international instrument - Inclusion Index (Booth and Ainscow, 2016), which addresses three main areas: developing an inclusive culture, creating inclusive policies, and implementing inclusive practices. The research showed that the target universities do not significantly differ from each other in terms of the quality of inclusive education and the inclusivity of the environment. The collected data indicates that students generally evaluate the inclusive environment in their universities quite positively and believe that the educational process is accessible to everyone. It is noteworthy that SEN students mentioned that they are only partially involved in the educational process, their needs are less considered in planning, their studies require much more effort from their families, etc. Interviews with academic and administrative personnel showed that they are receptive to inclusive education in general. However, most have little experience communicating and teaching SEN students. There is no professional supervision for working with SEN students and no structural unit coordinating the organization of the educational process for SEN individuals in universities. Based on the main conclusions, the several recommendations were developed to improve inclusive education and the inclusive environment in universities. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://dspace.tsu.ge/handle/123456789/2533 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University | |
| dc.title | Improving the Quality of Inclusivity in Universities - Key Recommendations | |
| dc.type | Presentation |