STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS IN GREEK HIGHER EDUCATION: ICTS AS A VITAL TOOL FOR INCLUSION

Authors

  • Asimina Riga Educational Sciences and Early Childhood Education, University of Patras, Greece & Hellenic Open University, Greece
  • Vasiliki Ioannidi Faculty of Humanities, Postgraduate Course “Education Sciences: Special Education for People with Oral and Written Language Difficulties”, Hellenic Open University, Greece
  • Nikolaos Papayiannis MA in American Literature, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46827/ejse.v6i2.3232

Keywords:

inclusive education, higher education, information and communication technologies, special educational needs

Abstract

The present paper intends to report and analyze ongoing practices and policies with respect to the inclusion of Students with Special Educational Needs (SEN) and/or disabilities into Higher Education in Greece. To achieve this goal, the researchers systematically searched the current literature sources to find out the extent to and the ways in which European priorities set by article 24 of the Convention on the Rights of Inclusion of Persons with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities, have been advocated by Greek educational policy within the Higher Education context. Actually, the literature review demonstrates the existing law framework of the Greek national and local policy whose purpose is to promote the development and implementation of digitally assisted services which ought to take into consideration the needs of students with learning disabilities and comply with the international strides calling for a broader inclusive education. The results of this review showed that Greek universities have endeavored to respond successfully to the Greek legislation’s mandates and to fully address anti-discriminatory practice. However, more adjustments and decisive progress steps have to be made in relation to the curriculum and to teachers’ professional training to ensure all students’ inclusion.

 

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Author Biographies

  • Asimina Riga, Educational Sciences and Early Childhood Education, University of Patras, Greece & Hellenic Open University, Greece

    Dr. Riga Asimina is a Special Education Teacher in Secondary and Higher Education. She holds a doctorate in Special Education from the University of Thessaly in Greece. She has taught Special Education and Language Processing at the University of Patras, at Hellenic Open University and at University of Nicosia, Cyprus. Dr Riga is currently adjuct lecturer at the University of Patras and a Personal Exercise Counselor at the Joint Master Degree of University of Patras with University of Nicosia entitled "Special Education". Her research focuses primarily on Language Teaching in students with Special Education Needs and on the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in Special Needs Education.

  • Vasiliki Ioannidi, Faculty of Humanities, Postgraduate Course “Education Sciences: Special Education for People with Oral and Written Language Difficulties”, Hellenic Open University, Greece

    Dr. Vasiliki Ioannidi works as Teaching and Research Fellow at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Tutor-Counselor at the Hellenic Open University and Pastoral Institute Training. She studied Philology and she holds a PhD in Pedagogy/ specialization: "Special Education" as Postgraduate Scholar of the Greek State Scholarships’ Foundation (School of Philosophy, University of Athens). She has received certification in Adult Education, Adult Educators Training, Open & Distance Learning and Neuroscience & Education. She is member of Think Tank “Intelligent Deep Analysis” at the University of Athens and member of ÖGKJP-Sektion Klinische Pädagogik. Research interests: Inclusive Education, Digital Education, Interdisciplinary cooperation in special needs, Teaching & best practices.

  • Nikolaos Papayiannis, MA in American Literature, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece

    Nikolaos Papayiannis has a BA in English Language and Literature from Aristotle University, Greece and a MA in American Literature and Culture of the same Department. He has twenty-two years of experience in EFL and finally, he has taken active part in scientific article publications.

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Published

2020-08-01

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 2 (2020)

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