The International Academy for Management and Technology (INTAMT) is a non-profit association, which has been active since 2005 in the field of international knowledge transfer and exchange of experience as well as the development and implementation of continuous professional development trainings and adult education programs.
Our core product is the demand-oriented combination of know-how and experience in different areas of education, research, technology, public administration as well as modern business and process management. We focus thereby on organizational and technical cross-sectoral innovations.
Our offers are characterized by an integrated and at the same time individual approach (“tailor made”), which leads to a constantly high demand for services of our academy on the education market.
Within 15 years, INTAMT has organised more than 700 CPD training courses, study tours and business meetings in 25 countries around the world with more than 7500 participants.
In addition to Continuing Professional Development, INTAMT Academy is actively involved in implementation of international education, research, development and consulting projects in the field of knowledge transfer and innovative technologies, including those funded by various programmes of the World Bank, European Commission (including ERASMUS+), UNICEF, GIZ, German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. German Foreign Office etc.
The European Centre for Socio-professional Integration ACTA (AbilitiesCareerTrainingAttitude) promotes educational activities, professional and social skills development of young people and adults in order to be able to adapt and integrate effectively in a dynamic society. ACTA is committed to social integration and gives equal opportunities to vocational skills learning for the most disadvantaged groups of people (those with a high risk of social exclusion, with special educational needs, social problems).
ACTA aims to enhance people empowerment, entrepreneurship and creativity and to encourage people to develop their ideas and initiatives into concrete projects through lifelong education. ACTA offers services in the areas of professional training & development through operative measures which consist of innovative methodologies and identifying market needs. Through non-formal education, ACTA also wants to inspire people to become volunteers. It adopts a policy of formal & non-formal education based on commitment through active participation. ACTA adopts and implements various innovative social initiatives providing information, counselling and training to both people and professionals. ACTA has expertise for social innovation and digital skills development. ACTA has a combined staff of teachers in schools and university with significant experience in research projects as well as psychologists & social workers delivering counselling activity as required. The managing staff has relevant experience in coordinating and implementing European transnational projects, in design, research, international scientific collaboration and participation in international scientific meetings.
CEIPES is a non-profit European organization with antennas in more than 8 European countries. CEIPES’ work is inspired by the principles and values of peace and nonviolence, equality in diversity, human rights, democracy and active participation, respect for the environment, cooperation, communication, solidarity, social inclusion, respect, tolerance and interculturality. CEIPES works at local, European and international level with more than 40 organisations and public bodies that work in synergy to reach identical goals. At local level CEIPES coordinates the CEIPES Network, which is based in Sicily and counts more than 20 organisations as well as public and private bodies.
The main purpose of CEIPES is to promote the Education and Development of young people and adults through activities in education, training, culture, nonviolence, interculturality, solidarity, human rights, active citizenship, international cooperation, and promote services thus contributing to human and civil growth at individual, community and world levels.
– CEIPES is divided into different sectors, each one developing specific projects with the support of professional intervention teams. Each sector is coordinated by a responsible that pays great attention to the quality of the service and activities carried out.
– The staff of the CEIPES is composed of many professional experts with different competences in several sectors such as psychology, communication, formation, international cooperation, social and cultural mediation, social assistance, informatics and law.
– The association relies on the collaboration of more than 25, mostly young, people who are also specialised in the above sectors, and who work in CEIPES’s activities.
– In this moment CEIPES works in different fields: “INNOVATION AND DEVELOPMENT, YOUTH, EDUCATION, RESERCH, TRAINING, LEARNING MOBILITY, CULTURE and SOCIAL WELFARE”.
Vision and Mission: CEIPES is active in the field of social and human development that works through education and training for a world of peace and equality in order to guarantee the fulfilment of the universal human rights.
The mission of CEIPES is to foster and support the sustainable development of local communities and individuals’ empowerment through education and training, human rights and international cooperation.
Objectives:
- To promote education and development for all the people at any age as a tool to foster individual and collective grow.
- To promote lifelong learning, vocational training and entrepreneurship with the aim of enhancing opportunities for youth and adults to improve and acquire competences and therefore boost their employability and inclusion.
- To improve methodologies, develop innovative strategies and tools in the field of youth, education and training through active international cooperation, study and research.
- To conduct international cooperation projects.
The territory of Sicily and Palermo are characterized by a high school dropout, bulliying in the school, a lack of information centers and meeting place for young people, a low participation in social and political life, a high level of unemployment, a high rate of violence among young people, a high immigration and a system where equal opportunities are difficult to implement, among other aspects, such as geographical isolation resulting in the fact of being an island and the mafia, which operates in the territory from various lapses corrode growth and development.
FORMER PARTNER: Listen Up Foundation
The organization’s motto states: “Deaf people can do anything… except hear.” And it’s more than true. Their team is a good example of that. They’re currently focused on building a strong and confident deaf community through innovative empowerment and education practices.
The obstacles
“The deaf and hard-of-hearing people are facing various challenges like the lacking recognition of the Bulgarian Sign language, among others. Currently, the Listen Up Foundation’s team are actively involved in the process of the Bulgarian Sign Language Act, which is expected to occur within 2020-2021.
Another major hurdle is the lack of bilingual education for the deaf and hard-of-hearing people. The current educational system in the country doesn’t provide the necessary accessibility services. Furthermore, there are very few qualified sign language interpreters. Thus, many deaf people don’t have the chance to understand, learn, and develop their skills.
“Yet, the biggest challenge for our team is the high level of apathy in the Deaf community,” comments the Listen Up team, adding that their organization’s strongest aspiration is to change people’s mindset. “We are working with the community on a regular basis with the aim to empower its members – encouraging them to listen to their voice, understand their needs and find solutions. Because change is possible, and the community should be its main driver.”
Driving positive change
“Most of the members of the ListenUp Foundation team are deaf or hard of hearing, young and active people. We have different backgrounds but common goals and values“ – Listen Up Management Board members. The team is focused on implementing various projects with the goal of laying the foundation for a deaf-friendly and inclusive environment, as well as creating a more innovative education system in Bulgaria. For instance, they are behind educational practices, awareness campaigns, and trainings for Deaf.
Unfortunately due to the pandemics and reduced working capacities, Listen Up Foundation had to leave the project. We express our gratitude to the Foundation for the great cooperation and the opportunity to learn from its experience.
THE NEW BULGARIAN PARTNER
The Bulgarian Development Agency (BDA) is a non-profit association undertaking activities for public benefit, established in Sofia, Bulgaria. The association aims to contribute to regional development as well as to promote democratic and integration processes in the context of a Knowledge Society. This is to be achieved through elaboration, localization and transfer of innovative training and education products, materials and methodologies; analysis, transfer and dissemination of best practices; establishment and promotion of centres of excellence, establishment and popularization of VET networks; digital skills and digital footprint for young people and adults.
Utena University of Applied Sciences was established in 2000. It’s a higher education institution in eastern Lithuania. It’s situated 100 km from the capital Vilnius.
THE MISSION
The mission of the Utena University of Applied Sciences – to educate and train professionals of various areas possessing higher college education, meeting the demands of the regional, national and European labour markets and to create conditions for continuous education by educating person’s abilities to learn continuously and act under the conditions of knowledge society being formed.
THE VISION
The vision of the Utena University of Applied Sciences – a modern and dynamic state institution of higher education, acknowledged nationally and internationally, promoting and cherishing the need for knowledge and creativity of the academic staff, based on high quality demands of all the areas of activity and innovation, developing partnership and actively involved in the life of Aukštaitija Region and Lithuania.
There are 2 faculties: the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Business and Technologies:
The Faculty of Medicine is a structural part of the University the main purpose and competence of which is to organise the studies, carry out applied research and train the professionals possessing higher education and professional qualification in the study fields of Education, Rehabilitation, Nursing, Social Work and Odontology, who meet the social economic demands of Utena Region and Lithuania.
The Faculty of Business and Technologies is a structural part of the University the main purpose and competence of which is to organise the studies, carry out applied research and train the professionals possessing higher education and professional qualification in the study fields of Management and Business Administration, Law, Agriculture, Ecology and Environmental Studies, Informatics Engineering, Chemistry and Industry Engineering, who meet the social economic demands of Utena Region and Lithuania.
The strengths of Utena University of Applied Sciences:
- High quality education at 2 faculties
- 21 study programmes (9 study programs based on modular study system with problem – based learning (PBL) approach)
- Student exchange programmes: Erasmus+, NORDPLUS
- E-learning
- International internships
- Modern facilities
- Experienced academic staff, invited foreign professors
- Developed applied research
- The cooperation with both national and international industry providers
The development of study programs and their quality, the strengthening of academic and scientific activities, the increase of internationality, and the fostering of humanistic values are the cornerstones on which Utena University of Applied Sciences was founded and grew. The foundation of the University success is its people: teachers and other staff, students and graduates, social partners from a wide range of institutions.
The Verband Sonderpaedagogik (Association for special education) was established in 1898 and currently has approx. 8,000 members. The work of the association covers all aspects of the educational support of people with disabilities and chronic diseases. Its members are largely involved in practical work and research for children and adolescents with special education needs.
The vds is a publisher of the Europe’s most circulated specialist publication “Newspaper for special educational needs” (German: “Zeitschrift für Heilpädagogik”), indexed by the European Index for the Humanities.
The Association for Special Education e. V. offers comprehensive training programs through its own education academy and organizes several nationwide specialist congresses annually. The triennial Special Education Congress in Weimar is known and sought after across national borders. For many years vds has been taking care of young scientists and offers them a platform for knowledge and experience exchange. The international contacts of the vds extend across the whole of Europe. Hereby is the topic of teacher education in the focus of networking.
The Federal Association is the umbrella organization of 16 regional associations in the Bundesländer (and therein in several regional organizations) that develop a variety of their own activities: they initiate congresses and training events and publish specialist journals in which not only, but above all, regional special educational topics are dealt with.
The association works for all children and young people who have special needs and require support in education and development. Its task is to promote and cultivate special needs support for maximizing the implementation quality of inclusive forms of education on a scientific basis and in all types of schools: special education schools; mainstream general schools, VET-schools and throughout other forms of education support. It seeks cooperation with all institutions working for disabled and disadvantaged persons. Its publications address authorities, institutions and the public in an appropriate way. vds supports measures that are suitable to prevent the emergence of disabilities and disadvantages.
The goal of the association is to set up the objectives of the special needs and inclusion pedagogics development and to carry out common representation of the professionals in the entire area of special education needs. The UN convention of the rights of persons with disabilities is the foundation of all activities.
