During the 2021-2022 academic year the Charitable Organisation "Medical Aid Committee in Zakarpattia" and the Faculty of Health and Physical Education of Uzhhorod National University with the support of the Parasolka Association (Switzerland) plan to organise a series of educational and practical cycles and lectures from Swiss specialists for students of the faculty who are trained in specialties 016 "Special Education" and 227 "Physical Therapy. Occupational therapy».

These training cycles are a continuation of the educational activities launched in 2019 within the framework of a joint Ukrainian-Swiss project aimed at creating a sustainable and effective training system to ensure the provision of quality social and therapeutic services. Their goal is to socialise and improve the quality of human life on the basis of a multidisciplinary approach, implemented by UzhNU, the Medical Aid Committee in Zakarpattia, and the Parasolka Association (Switzerland). Within the educational and practical cycles, teachers and students will be offered to acquire and deepen knowledge and skills in certain aspects of medical rehabilitation, social and educational services for people with disabilities and special educational needs, enriched by the experience of Swiss professionals, new teaching methods in a combination of practical and theoretical blocks. This set of training fully meets the needs of potential clients of future professionals.

Thus, from November 1 to 5, 2021, lectures and seminars will be held for students of the specialty 016 "Special Education" - future special education teachers. The topics for in-depth consideration will include: special education, school remedial education and agogic, definitions, basics, key concepts and approaches, and visions of these disciplines. The course is led by Hendrika Graf de Ruiter, a special education teacher, founder, and head of the Centre for People with Complex Sensory Disorders (Switzerland).

The next step is to hold seminars on neuropaediatrics and work with children with neuropathology from March 14 to 18, 2022. Paediatric neurologist Oswald Hasselmann (Children's Hospital of Eastern Switzerland) and specialist in prevention and public health Margrit Duetz (Centre of Excellence for Children, Youth, and Adults with Congenital or Acquired Brain Disorders, Switzerland) will work with students this week). Students of all the aforementioned specialties can take part in this course.

And the third course is a week of seminars and workshops on early intervention from 10 to 18 May, 2022. The course will be taught for the second time, and accordingly, the faculty teachers will conduct it together with specialists from Switzerland. Course authors: Paediatric physiotherapist Brigitte Berthold and Silvia Zimmermann, early intervention teacher.

Upon completion of the education cycles, specialists will carry out a final assessment of the knowledge acquired by students.

It should be reminded that this June on the basis of Uzhhorod National University with the participation of domestic and foreign specialists there were held professional discussions of new approaches to conducting introductory and educational practice for students mastering the areas of special education, physical and occupational therapy. In particular, at the initiative of the Charitable Organisation "Medical Aid Committee in Zakarpattia", the issue of involvement of Vilshansky Orphanage and Social Abilitation and Rehabilitation Centre "Parasolka" to the practice bases is being considered.