Objectives

Project`s objectives:

• To develop an innovative academic course on ASD, based on the integrative view of case management
• To create a European Virtual University Clinic for ASD (EVUCASD) which will host the Open Educational Resources developed in the project (including a MOOC on ASD)
• To share the curriculum model developed in the project, tools and materials with other universities, private education/training providers, stakeholders, practitioners, to improve the educational offer at National and European levels.

THE MAIN RESULTS of the project are:

1. The intellectual outputs – the course concept, the course materials (teacher's and student`s manual), the academic book, the online platform EVUCASD with the embedded MOOC- all described and detailed in their corresponding section.
2. The output resulted from the learning activities – 160 students trained and certified with ECTSs in the new developed academic course “Integrative Interventions for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders”, described and detailed in the corresponding section
3. An improve quantity and quality of higher education programs in the field of ASD in the partner's countries. The new developed course will be integrated in the curriculum of the partner universities, contributing to a higher level of novelty and internationalization of the study programs.
4. More skilled and competent students, with new developed competences as they are described in occupational standards (including ICT competences).
5. Better English language and IT skills for the students, that will be developed in the participation on the EVUCASD, using an on/line platform and communicating with other European students.
6. A European virtual network of specialists in ASD (psychologists, psycho-pedagogues, teachers, including parents who will become specialists in educating their child) who can interact and learn from and with each other in the EVUCASD.
7. An improved awareness in the field of ASD. The MOOC course on ASD, will be available on EVUCASD for all interested parties, including the general public, so anyone that whishes can take the MOOC. Through the dissemination activities all stakeholders interested in the life of the children with ASD and the general public will become aware of the possible intervention for children with ASD. Announcements will be posted in social media pages, press communicates released and flyers distributed.

Established in January 2016, the University Clinic for Therapies and Psycho-pedagogical Counseling is meant to carry out interdisciplinary research in the field of complex therapies for children, adolescents and adults with special needs. CUTCP is also a research platform that involves not only the management of research projects, but also the development of partnerships and research with stakeholders from outside the university environment. At the same time, we intend that, in the near future, the Clinic will become the main consultant and research provider in the field of special education in the area of influence of the Western University. The applied and fundamental research activities are carried out in the following fields: special education (in connection with assessment and interventions for children with special needs, psychological, educational and vocational counseling and psychotherapy for people with disabilities and their families), kinetotherapy and special motor abilities, occupational therapy, art therapy, psychology and social work. The University Clinic is open to all researchers who intend to develop scientific knowledge in the social field, in order to improve the quality of education, training and psycho-pedagogical interventions. CUTCP aims to substantiate its research through the services offered to the community in order to capture as much as possible the real needs of knowledge and methodological development of the social field. The clinic offers counseling and specialized assistance in the field of special education, enhancing scientific research by transferring results to clinics, hospitals and schools.
The clinic represents an opportunity to involve the undergraduate, master and doctoral students in the research activity, thus being part of multidisciplinary research teams. Thus, they can learn through supervision, to carry out quality research. The clinic offers access to its research infrastructure for students who develop their bachelor's, dissertation or doctoral thesis in the research projects carried out by their supervisors within the clinic.

CUTCP Objectives:

• To bring together specialists from around the West University of Timișoara and other universities and to work closely with clinical and voluntary sector services
• To develop scientific knowledge in the field in order to enhance quality of education, training and intervention using state-of-the-art technology
• To involve students, support and supervise them in applying their knowledge and conceptual understanding to real-world problems in experiential learning situations
• To provide expertise and services to the community as part of the strategy for institutional development of West University.