“Equal Opportunities for Students with Special Needs in Higher Education"
CONFERENCE ON THE RESULTS OF POLICY AND PRACTICE ANALYSIS IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA: SITUATION AND OUTLOOK

On Monday, 9 July 2012 in the UNSA Rectorate’s Ceremonial Hall, a Conference on the State Support of Students with Disabilities in Higher Education in Bosnia and Herzegovina was held. The Conference was organized by the University of Sarajevo, in cooperation with seven public universities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Federal Ministry for Education and Science, Ministry of Culture and Education of the Republic of Srpska and European partners - the University of Alicante, University of Vienna and Kaho Sint-Lieven University within the framework of the implementation of the Tempus project " Equal Opportunities for Students with Special Needs in Higher Education".
Prof. Dr Faruk Caklovica, University of Sarajevo Rector and Professor. Dr Samir Arnautovic, UNSA Vice-Rector for International Cooperation welcomed the attendees. Having made an emphasis that the basic objective of this project is the establishment of an institutionalized system support for students with special needs in higher education at all public universities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Rector Caklovica said: "We support this goal, not only because it is about a step that will get us closer to the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), but also because it is noble and humane purpose. We are indeed aware of the current situation in which students with special needs are, as well as all persons with disabilities. As the Rector of the University, I pledge my full support to this project and strongly believe that we are able to improve the situation of persons with special needs ".
The Tempus project “Equal Opportunities for Students with Special Needs in Higher Education" aims to support the B-H universities to improve the quality of higher education and modernization of the creation of institutional capacity and develop policies and practices that will enable all students to study at B-H universities. It was emphasized that the project will contribute to the long-term strengthening of knowledge and skills of persons with disabilities and support this socially excluded group in finding employment, achieving economic independence and social recognition, which is necessary for them to achieve social inclusion.
Doc. Dr Alma Dizdarevic (University of Tuzla) presented a project at the conference, while the general report on the results of the analysis was presented by Mrs. Nadejda Patras (University of Alicante). Individual reports on the results of the analysis were presented by B-H public universities representatives, while about the practices of European partner universities spoke Tomas Ordonez Rubio (Student Support Center support, University of Alicante), Ute Steffl-Weis (University of Economics and Business Dealing in Vienna) and Willem Vanden Berg (Kaho Sint-Lieven).
Prof. Dr. Alma Dizdarevic presented a University guide for supporting students with special needs: "Meeting Your Needs", which is intended to improve access, meet the needs and rights and improve the experience of studying for all with special needs at all B-H universities. The purpose of this Guide is to develop awareness about disability and special needs, the way of recognizing these students, and the way of developing and improving their skills by learning through support that is available at the university.
Presentations held by Prof. Dr Meliha Bijedic (Tuzla University) and Mr. Haris Muhic (World University Service B&H) that presented future activities ended the Conference.