Our University has been recognized for its commitment to creating conditions that support students with special needs, including individuals on the autism spectrum. The Faculty of Psychology and Education of WSEI University has become a laureate of the “Faculty Friendly to Everyone” Competition.
- After deliberations and a thorough analysis of all submissions and the good practices described by you, the Competition Jury honored your unit with recognition for its commitment and implementation of solutions supporting people with special needs. Particular appreciation was given to your actions aimed at increasing accessibility and creating an environment conducive to educational inclusion, especially for students on the autism spectrum – we read in the justification of the Competition Jury of the “Faculty Friendly to Everyone” project.
The initiator of the project is the Alpha Foundation, which promotes knowledge about the autism spectrum in society. - This is already the third edition of the Competition. In previous editions, we received submissions mainly from the Lublin region; this year, from all over Poland. We believe that if a faculty and a university are friendly to people on the autism spectrum, then they are friendly to everyone. People on the spectrum are individuals with a type of disability that is not visible and not always accepted. If these individuals find their place at WSEI University and feel comfortable here, it deserves recognition. We are pleased that in Lublin there is a university that is friendly to every student – said the President of the Alpha Foundation, dr. hab. Anna Prokopiak, prof. at UMCS, while presenting the Certificate to the Authorities of our University on Friday.
The “Faculty Friendly to Everyone” project is held under the Honorary Patronage of PFRON - State Fund for the Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons.
The Competition Jury consisted of: Monika Richardson – journalist and trainer; dr. hab. Anna Fidelus, prof. at UKSW, Vice-Rector for Student Affairs and Education at Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University; dr. Eng. Marta Chodyka – Dean of the Faculty of Technical Sciences at Akademia Bialska; dr. hab. Anna Prokopiak, prof. at UMCS - Head of the Department of Special Psychopedagogy and President of the Alpha Foundation; Michał Stańczuk – Head of the Accessibility Center and Accessibility Coordinator at Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University; Filip Mazur – Partner of the Alpha Foundation; and Piotr Olszak, MD.
Special attention was drawn to your University by Monika Richardson, who mentioned that for her son, who has Asperger’s syndrome, the actions you carry out as a University would be very important – added prof. Prokopiak. - The logo of our foundation is an egg symbolizing something delicate and fragile, which does not break, but for which we are looking for a key. You have found that key, and it deserves recognition. We wish you further development, because this is something one cannot stop at.
As emphasized by the President of WSEI University, Teresa Bogacka, dr. h.c. - the student is always a subject, not an object, and this is of great importance: - Our University was founded on cooperation with people, because for many years I ran the OIC Poland Foundation – a foundation connected with entrepreneurship, social projects, and activities aimed at people who require special care and who are marginalized. From the very beginning, this University has addressed all problems, largely social ones, and therefore we are all the more pleased that our work for the benefit of students has been noticed.
PhD. Małgorzata Artymiak, prof. at WSEI University, Dean of the Faculty of Psychology and Education, said that WSEI University does not choose its students, but instead looks for a key to help them go through the educational process so that they can complete their studies: - One must pay attention to every student, and this is our mission – summarized prof. Artymiak.
The laureates of the 3rd edition of the “Faculty Friendly to Everyone” Competition also included: the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, and the Faculty of Applied Sciences in Dąbrowa Górnicza, WSB.
