The development of an inclusive center is a priority

ENU Rector Yerlan Sydykov visited the Center for Inclusive Education, got acquainted with its activities and gave recommendations on its development.

Special attention is paid to the situation of students of various social categories, including students with disabilities. According to the data for the 2023-2024 academic year, 162 students with special needs study at the university. Specially adapted education programs are developed for them. There is also a specially designated parking lot for vehicles with the maximum possible conditions for unhindered, safe and comfortable movement.

"We are constantly monitoring the issue of creating conditions for students at our university. To this end, we’ve come today to familiarize ourselves with the work of the Center for Inclusive Education with vice-rectors for social and cultural development, academic affairs, finance and infrastructure and heads of structural industries. The goal is to create the most necessary conditions. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the number of specialists who directly interact with students with special educational needs," Yerlan Sydykov said.

At the meeting, the need for experienced specialists to improve the qualifications of ENU faculty and staff in the field of inclusive education, providing methodological assistance was voiced. The center was opened by the Faculty of Social Sciences. This requires specialists such as a psychologist, a career counselor, a lawyer, a speech therapist and a speech pathologist, a rehabilitation doctor, and a trainer. To create favorable conditions, it is planned to open an inclusive coworking.

Currently, based on Career Enbek, a professional standard is to define the competence of social workers and their career growth by dividing them into 8 qualification levels. According to the head of the Psychology Department, the professional standard covers 5 levels of social workers, including 2 specialists with secondary specialized education and 3 specialists with higher and postgraduate education.

There are benefits for people with disabilities. Including free accommodation in student dormitories, and students with visual and hearing impairments are additionally paid a 75% surcharge to the scholarship based on the exam results.

There is also an inclusive information and resource center in the university’s scientific library. The main purpose of the center, opened five years ago, is to provide information support to students with special educational needs. Thanks to the support of the Center, a barrier-free environment and equal access to information and library resources are provided. The Center offers students with visual impairments Braille books, an extensive media library in various fields of scientific knowledge and electronic resources with special mobile applications designed for the visually impaired and blind.