Polish national “Icebreaker” for reducing barriers

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We are pleased to inform that the jury of the Polish national competition “Icebreakers 2016” awarded the AGH University of Science and Technology a silver medal in the category “institutions”. The idea behind “Icebreakers” is overcoming prejudice related to employing disabled people.  

The award gala took place at the Royal Castle in Warsaw on 29 September, 2016. The jury awarded distinctions in three categories: for supported employment enterprises, for companies operating on the open labour market, and for institutions. The AGH University of Science and Technology was represented by professor Anna Siwik, AGH UST Vice-Rector for Student Affairs, and professor Barbara Gąciarz, Rector’s Proxy for Disabled People. 

For many years, the university has been taking action towards the activation and integration of people with disabilities in different spheres of social and professional life. The university consequently and successfully implements the programme “AGH UST friendly to disabled people”. The aim of the programme is the support and providing comprehensive solution to problems which students with various types of disability come across, and the methods and forms of education are adjusted to the individual needs of disabled students. In order to create conditions for the implementation of the programme, the university has established the AGH UST Disability Support Office, which collaborates with the other Krakow universities on the basis of signed agreements.  

The university supports the activity and initiatives of the AGH UST Association of Disabled Students, the first organization of this kind in Poland, established in 2001. In 2008, the university established Section for Disabled People, which employs individuals with disabilities and takes action towards the social activation of disabled people. At AGH UST there are about 500 disabled students, and the university also has 50 employees with various types of disability.  

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