Objectives - what do we want to achieve by implementing the project?

The ERGOART project aims to improve existing curricula in higher education and later provide a systematic approach to teaching and knowledge sharing for other local educational institutions. Current teaching methods and approaches lack innovative and high-tech knowledge about ergonomic workplace design for workers with disabilities, even though this could be a significant advantage for their long-term employment. The knowledge needed is fragmented and should be offered in a more targeted manner.

Implementation

  • Identification of good practices about workers with disabilities and their employment with focus on culture area
  • Skill card creation, Training curriculum and a systematic approach for teaching and knowledge exchange
  • Trainings including case studies about workplace design for workers with disabilities
  • Preparation of Transferability and Evaluation Handbook

Project results and other outcomes

  • The catalog of good practices that defines gaps and focuses on identifying existing cases and best practices used in Europe for workers with disabilities in general and specifically in the cultural sector
  • Skill card pack with the competency matrix and training curriculum
  • Sustainable training based on a systematic approach with case studies
  • Policy recommendations to reduce discrimination among workers with disabilities and enable their long-term employment

The ERGOART Project by SWOT analysis:

Strengths:

  • Universities have experience with teaching and learning
  • Knowledge of various ergonomic principles that could be further explored for workers with disabilities
  • Equipment and technology; ergonomic software to perform various ergonomic analyses, simulations, knowledge and skills to use this technology, and the ability to transfer this to students and trainees

Weaknesses:

  • Workers with disabilities are more sensitive for stress at work and possible injury
  • Workers with disabilities are often excluded from social life and have lower employment rates compared to healthy workers
  • Employers often don’t have sufficient knowledge to include workers with disabilities in their regular work, so they’re often placed in segregated work environments
  • Students (as future employers) don’t receive enough specific knowledge about workers with disabilities during their studies
  • Current teaching methods and approaches lack transnational collaboration
  • Little knowledge exchange between higher education systems, vocational training systems and companies

Opportunities:

  • The current education system can be developed to support individual needs such as additional knowledge for workers with disabilities
  • Society is developed to the point where there are more opportunities for inclusion of disadvantaged individuals through various approaches (e.g., Erasmus projects)