University students with disabilities in Universities. A study of their inclusion

Access to higher education has increased among students with disabilities, and universities are adopting different alternatives which must be assessed. The purpose of this study was to identify the situation of a sample of students with disabilities (n=91) who attend a university in Spain, through the design and validation of the “CUNIDIS-d” scale, with satisfactory psychometric properties. The results show the importance of making reasoned curriculum adaptations, adapting teacher training, improving accessibility and involving all the university community. Different proposals were provided which support the social dimension of the EHEA.

Predictors of attitudes toward inclusion of students with special educational needs in future education professionals

One of the main pillars in the development of inclusive schools is the initial teacher training. Before determining if it is necessary to make changes (and of what type) in training programs or curriculum guides related to the attention to diversity and inclusive education, the attitudes of future education professionals in this area should be analyzed. This includes the identification of the relevant predictors of inclusive attitudes. The research reported in this article pursued this objective, doing so with a quantitative survey methodology based on the use of cross-sectional structured data collection and statistical analyses related to the quality of the attitude questionnaire (factor analysis and Cronbach's alpha), descriptive statistics, correlations, hypothesis tests for difference of means, and regression analysis in order to predict attitudes towards inclusion in education. Firstly, the results show that the participants held very positive attitudes toward the inclusion of students with special educational needs. Particularly, older respondents, those with a longer training and, to a lesser extent, women and those who had been in touch with disabled people stood out within this attitude. Secondly, it is evidenced that self-transcendence values ​and, more weakly, contact, function as robust predictors of attitudes of future practitioners towards the inclusion of students with special needs. Some applications for the initial professionalization of educators are suggested in the discussion.

Students with disabilities in a Chilean university

The purpose of this article is to give a report about a research related with the conditions of inclusion of students with disability in a Chilean university. This research is a quantitative, descriptive and cross-sectional study. To collect the data required, a survey was developed, which was applied to 38 students with disability. The main results reveal a high retention rate of students, who exhibit a positive perception of their inclusion in their university life and also a high level of satisfaction with most of the services provided. Seven out of ten students surveyed recognize having received some sort of education care from their programs to pursue their studies. However, there still exists a lack of connection between the current initiatives developed at the university to support the enrollment and permanence of students. Added to this fact, there is a lack of protocols and training for teachers and staff. In this study it is proposed that the university must establish a management system that defines objectives, strategies and actions that contribute to improve inclusion of people with disabilities.

Reception and schooling of children in schools in Catalonia: Beyond Educational Welcome Facilities

The ways of incorporating newcoming students into schools and colleges have been at the center of debate in most OECD countries in recent years. In Spain, the set of measures developed for the reception of immigrant pupils in different Autonomous Communities has also been the subject of specific research, pointing out the similarities and contradictions between pedagogic discourses and school practices. This article takes into account these considerations and presents the reflections from the results of research on the Educational Welcome Facilities (and specifically the EBE) conducted during the school years 2008-2010. This device was created in Catalonia to attend newcomers before enrolling them in the school. It was a pilot project which took place in Vic and Reus for two consecutive years. The research of the EBE has enabled us to explain the relationship between educational assessment that schools made about this facility and reception processes that schools were implementing. The conclusions that emerge from this analysis allowed us to establish relationships between educational host practices of the seven centers analyzed with three different conceptual and educational frameworks of reception.

“Yo acojo, tú agrupas, ella compensa”: Análisis comparado de la política de integración del alumnado inmigrante en tres Comunidades Autónomas

Con la Ley Orgánica de Mejora de la Calidad Educativa vuelve a emerger uno de los temas educativos más oportunos: la toma de decisiones en torno a las políticas educativas de atención al alumnado inmigrante. El momento supone una excelente excusa para, desde el prisma que nos ofrece la Educación Comparada, revisar cómo el colectivo de infancia inmigrante ha sido educado desde tres modelos de gestión educativa representados por tres Comunidades Autónomas: Comunidad Valenciana, Cataluña y Andalucía. El artículo se sitúa en el análisis de las medidas que se han articulado en los tres casos como respuesta a su recepción, acogida y escolarización, utilizando una metodología cualitativa basada en el método comparado: en el estudio descriptivo (fase analítica), se realiza una exploración explicativa de las medidas articuladas en torno a las políticas de gestión del alumnado inmigrante, mediante el análisis de contenido de fuentes primarias y secundarias. Con respecto a los resultados, en la fase sintética, tras haber yuxtapuesto los principales criterios que asemejan y también dirimen a los tres modelos, se reconoce cómo las tres Comunidades Autónomas presentan particularidades, fruto de trayectos históricos propios, coyunturas económicas y políticas e intenciones educativas y sociales, influidas por contextos en los que algunos factores han tenido un peso específico importante. Además del protagonismo institucional, se detectan diferencias notables en las medidas concretas adoptadas, pero también coincidencias, como las políticas que apoyan económicamente la lengua de la comunidad autónoma. Finalmente, en la fase de conclusiones comparadas, se plantean una serie de elementos de los que se deberían dotar las Comunidades Autónomas y que se hallan presentes en algunos modelos analizados. La atención a la lengua que porta el alumnado o el cuidado por incluir una educación intercultural en los planes de los centros educativos son dos de las acciones más significativas.

Students perceptions about attention to diversity in Secondary Education Teachers Initial Training

This work aims to analyze the perceptions of students enrolled in the Master's Degree in Secondary Education Teaching, Training and Language Teaching at the University of Jaen, about the initial training received on attention to diversity. A descriptive methodology has been followed using an ad hoc questionnaire as data collection instrument. The results show favorable attitudes of future secondary teachers for diversity, having received an adequate training in curricular and organizational aspects, making it able to fully achieve inclusion of students with special educational needs in the classroom.

Estimate of the (R)USLE rainfall erosivity factor from monthly precipitation data in mainland Spain

The need for continuous recording rain gauges makes it difficult to determine the rainfall erosivity factor (R-factor) of the (R)USLE model in areas without good temporal data coverage. In mainland Spain, the Nature Conservation Institute (ICONA) determined the R-factor at few selected pluviographs, so simple estimates of the R-factor are definitely of great interest. The objectives of this study were: (1) to identify a readily available estimate of the R-factor for mainland Spain; (2) to discuss the applicability of a single (global) estimate based on analysis of regional results; (3) to evaluate the effect of record length on estimate precision and accuracy; and (4) to validate an available regression model developed by ICONA. Four estimators based on monthly precipitation were computed at 74 rainfall stations throughout mainland Spain. The regression analysis conducted at a global level clearly showed that modified Fournier index (MFI) ranked first among all assessed indexes. Applicability of this preliminary global model across mainland Spain was evaluated by analyzing regression results obtained at a regional level. It was found that three contiguous regions of eastern Spain (Catalonia, Valencian Community and Murcia) could have a different rainfall erosivity pattern, so a new regression analysis was conducted by dividing mainland Spain into two areas: Eastern Spain and plateau-lowland area. A comparative analysis concluded that the bi-areal regression model based on MFI for a 10-year record length provided a simple, precise and accurate estimate of the R-factor in mainland Spain. Finally, validation of the regression model proposed by ICONA showed that R-ICONA index overpredicted the R-factor by approximately 19%.

Retos para potenciar la inclusión desde el discurso de la comunidad educativa: estudio de caso desde una perspectiva longitudinal

La inclusión del alumnado inmigrante resulta fundamental para garantizar la igualdad de oportunidades y el desarrollo de una ciudadanía crítica y participativa. Por ello, el presente artículo corresponde a un estudio longitudinal en un centro escolar con el objetivo de conocer las percepciones de los docentes hacia las familias inmigrantes y justificar la importancia de potenciar la participación de las dichas familias en la vida educativa. El análisis sobre dicho enfoque inclusivo se inició en el curso 2010/11 y finaliza tres años después. Los resultados obtenidos a través de la observación participante, entrevistas a informadores clave y el análisis de documentos del centro se exponen clasificados en diferentes estrategias tanto a nivel organizativo como de aula.