Preliminary communication
Students' perception of the opportunities of people with disabilities to meet the requirements of study programmes
Lorena Franjkić
; Edukacijsko-rehabilitacijski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, studentica diplomskog studija
Lelia Kiš-Glavaš
; Edukacijsko-rehabilitacijski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu
Valentina Novak Žižić
; Ured za studente s invaliditetom Sveučilišta u Zagrebu
Abstract
By increasing levels of formal education, especially in the field of higher education, people with disabilities can gain those titles that are in high demand on the open labor market, which could reduce the unemployment rate of people with disabilities. However, there are certain obstacles that students with disabilities must overcome, and one of them is an often negative perception by their social environment, including other students, on their opportunity to meet the demands of various study programs offered on our universities. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine whether the perception of the respondents, students of the University of Zagreb, on the opportunities for students with disabilities to meet the requirements of study programs, is positive or negative, taking into account variables such as gender, scientific field, past experience with people with disabilities, and education on people with disabilities within faculty or university courses. The data were collected through a short survey questionnaire, designed for the purpose of this study, and the study was conducted in groups. 630 third year undergraduate students, from appropriately selected faculties and study programs, who represent a specific scientific field of all the scientific fields at the University of Zagreb, have been involved in this study. A Chi square test has been used as a method of processing data to verify the hypothesis. The results show that, in general, the majority of respondents positively perceive the opportunities of students with disabilities to meet the demands of their study programs, although this perception significantly differs depending on the type of disability. Significant differences were found among respondents of different genders, from different faculties, and faculties of different scientific fields, and a certain influence of experience with people with disabilities, and education on people with disabilities as part of courses in faculty, has been determined. The conclusion indicates the need for conducting various educational programs, of informing, and fostering students' awareness about the possibilities of people with disabilities, particularly in the context of higher education, in order to create a pleasant and stimulating atmosphere for further academic advancement of students with disabilities.
Keywords
students with disabilities; perception of the opportunities
Hrčak ID:
124771
URI
Publication date:
8.7.2014.
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