Projects in Special and Inclusive Education

Recommended Prerequisites

It is recommended that students have completed the curricular unit of Methods and Resources in Special Education. Students must have a B1 in English and Spanish.

Teaching Methods

The curricular unit favours active and demonstrative methods, although diversified teaching methods and strategies are used. Students will apply the concepts, models and management mechanisms to the development of projects through: (i) analysis of research and intervention projects carried out according to different references and norms and (ii) development of an original and innovative project proposal in Special Education and/or Inclusive Education.

Learning Outcomes

- Understanding the references, models and approaches used by various (inter)national organisms in the creation, implementation and monitoring / evaluation of projects in Special Education and Inclusive Education

- Identifying priorities and/or emerging priority needs covered in policies, legal regulations and / or other documents that regulate the feasibility of projects (e.g., allocation of funding, establishment of partnerships for execution)

- Efficiently articulating project management processes and the stages in a project's life cycle, in Special Education and/or Inclusive Education

- Developing and implementing research and intervention projects in Special Education and/or Inclusive Education, independently and/or in a partnership

- Developing and implementing research and intervention projects for different audiences, purposes, methodologies, resources and/or contexts.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1. Key concepts and their operationalisation according to different conceptual and action models

1.1 The project and its components; project methodology; conceptual frameworks and action frameworks from proposing, funding, and regulatory entities

1.2 The project as a differentiated form of conceptualisation and action in Special Ed. and Inclusive Ed.

1.3 Stages of project development (according to project methodology)

2. Strategic planning and operational project planning

2.1 Commonalities and specificities in strategic planning and operational planning

2.2 Project life cycle, project management cycle and its interdependence with the life and dynamics of an organisation

3.2 Organisation, leadership(s) and collaboration in the creation, implementation and monitoring/evaluation of projects

3.3 Roles, responsibilities and competences of organisations, professionals, volunteers, beneficiaries, other agents

4. Project feasibility: funding, execution, reporting.

Head Lecturer(s)

Francisco Luis Baptista de Sá Machado

Assessment Methods

Continuous assessment
Project: 50.0%
Synthesis work: 50.0%

Final assessment
Exam: 100.0%

Bibliography

Bredillet, C., Tywoniak, S., & Dwivedula, R. (2015). What is a good project manager? An Aristotelian perspective. International Journal of Project Management, 33(2), 254-266.

European Union (2021). Research and innovation. Retrieved 20-07-2019 at https://library.wmo.int/doc_num.php?explnum_id=6434.

Jalal, M. P., & Koosha, S. M. (2015). Identifying organizational variables affecting project management office characteristics and analyzing their correlations in the Iranian project-oriented organizations of the construction industry. International Journal of Project Management, 33(2), 458-466.

Serrano, G. (2008). Elaboração de Projetos Sociais Casos Práticos. Porto: Porto Editora

Turner, J. R. (2009). The handbook of project based management (3^rd ed.). London: McGraw-Hill

WMO (2016). Project management guidelines and handbook. Retrieved 20-07-2019 at https://library.wmo.int/doc_num.php?explnum_id=6434.