Support for students with disabilities

The "Institute Integriert Studieren" is a teaching and research facility for accessibility and assisted technologies and a support centre for students with disabilities. Preparing graduates with disabilities for employment is considered an essential element. The measures aimed at students are supplemented by a mentoring system.

The Institute Integriert Studieren is a teaching and research facility at Johannes Kepler University in Upper Austria for accessibility and assisted technologies and a support centre for students with disabilities. Preparing graduates with disabilities for employment is considered an essential element of the Institute Integriert Studieren´s mandate. Social skills are imparted early, during studies, so graduates can confidently apply for highly qualified jobs. Acquiring on-the-job training during studies is viewed as central for successfully entering the employment world. The measures aimed at students (for example, specific training courses) are supplemented by a mentoring system featuring representatives from potential employers, as well as purposeful awareness-raising at Johannes Kepler University (JKU). Originally a pilot project of the Austrian Ministry of Science, it has been adopted by the university.

Solution, Innovation and Impact

This support for students with disabilities has been available at Johannes Kepler University for 20 years including extensive awareness-raising, addressing the university and employers.

Funding, Outlook and Transferability

According to the project managers, since the turn of this century similar centres have been set up or functions taken over at several universities in Austria, for example, at the Universities of Graz, Klagenfurt and Vienna University of Technology.