On Monday, September 23, the Charitable Organization "Medical Aid Committee in Zakarpattia", Uzhhorod National University (UzhNU) and the Association Parasolka (Switzerland) signed a trilateral partnership agreement. Its purpose is to create new educational conditions at the UzhNU state educational institution for the training of specialists who will provide quality educational, medical, and social and rehabilitation services for persons with disabilities.

The important document was signed by the rector of the university Volodymyr Smolanka, president of the Association Parasolka Andreas Schmidand the director of the CAMZ Natalia Kabatsiy.

“Our joint plans are very valuable. And I remember the discussions we had during the meeting in Switzerland. They have added strength to the implementation of this project ... And we will certainly do our best to ensure that neither party is disappointed in working together. We are currently using and implementing best practices of European universities, with which we already have partnerships and friendly relations,” said Volodymyr Smolanka.

The partners from Switzerland were interested in the progress of the joint project implementation, in particular, in the beginning of training of specialists in jointly developed programs.

“We are very pleased to have the opportunity to be in Ukraine again. The project we started together with Uzhhorod National University is very important to us because it allows us to make sustainable the development of all those projects that were started earlier. Ensuring the stable work of specialists is a guarantee of success of the whole process,” Andreas Schmidsaid during the meeting.

According to the dean of the Faculty of Health and Physical Education of UzhNU Ivan Myronyuk, the project has already started the implementation of its first component, namely the introduction of some components in the existing training programs for specialists. This phase will be fulfilled during this year and the beginning of the next one.

“In order to implement the common agreements, we have made changes to the training programs for specialists in physical therapy, occupational therapy, and special education … For the next ten days, we will have teachers from Switzerland working in the respective areas of training. Also, there is a cycle of preparation for special teachers' organizational work,” Ivan Myronyuk said.

He also added that during the current semester, about 90 university students will be involved in special professional training.

As a result of the implementation of the plans and intentions set out in the Agreement, the parties will jointly form a sustainable and effective training system to ensure the provision of quality social therapy services aimed at socializing and improving the quality of life of people with disabilities. Thus, the document provides for the implementation of multilateral cooperation, in particular:

• making changes to existing educational programs and curricula for training specialists (physical therapist, occupational therapist, special education teacher, speech therapist, physical education teacher, social worker)
• didactic and professional retraining of full-time teachers of the Faculty of Health and Physical Education;
• introduction of a system of practical training, which will create a training, production, scientific and rehabilitation centre of the UzhNU. It is envisaged that the students of the senior courses and magistracy will take internships in partner institutions of the respective profile – the Vilshany Orphanage and the Social Abilitation and Rehabilitation Centre "Parasolka";
• step-by-step introduction of training at the level of junior bachelor of a new professional – a member of a multidisciplinary team - a specialist in the support of persons with complex physical and / or mental disorders;
• joint scientific, scientific-practical and scientific-methodical conferences, symposia, workshops, seminars, study visits, other scientific events.

The present Agreement is a continuation of the purposeful activity on expansion, improvement, and optimization of specific assistance and educational services for people with disabilities in Zakarpattia oblast, which is carried out by the Medical Aid Committee in Zakarpattia and its partners.