The University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Skopje (UKIM) is a public higher educational institution and the first public university in the Republic of Macedonia. UKIM is comprised of 23 faculties, 5 research institutes and 4 public scientific institutions. UKIM offers high- standard teaching and research in all fields of science: natural sciences and mathematics, technical and technological sciences, medical sciences and health, biotechnological sciences, social sciences, arts and humanities.
Nowadays, over 60,000 domestic and foreign students are enrolled in first, second or third-cycle study programs. Every year there are more than 10,000 students who are enrolled in all three cycles of the university, making UKIM the biggest University in the Republic of Macedonia in terms of student numbers. Over 3.100 teaching, research, associate, as well as administrative staff participate in the realisation of the teaching and scientific process. The University has produced around 150,000 graduated high-professional staff; 10,000 candidates obtained Masters and Specialist degrees and approximately 3,000 candidates obtained a doctoral degree in all teaching and scientific fields. All 536 study programs are adapted to the Bologna process. UKIM has successfully completed the fourth external evaluation, carried out by an expert team nominated by the European University Association.
The Faculty of Philosophy in Skopje, engaged in this project, is the oldest higher education institution in the Republic of Macedonia. The first standardised studies at the Faculty of Philosophy were initiated in 1920, which marked the beginning of higher education in Macedonia. Nowadays, the scientific community of the Faculty of Philosophy in Skopje is represented by 111 professors and associate personnel and approximately 4,000 students enrolled in undergraduate, graduate and doctoral studies. The Faculty of Philosophy in Skopje consists of 12 departments in the field of humanities and social science: Philosophy, Pedagogy, History, History of Art and Archaeology, Classical studies, Psychology, Sociology, Social Work and Social Policy, Security, Defence and Peace, Special Education and Rehabilitation, Gender Studies, and Family Studies. Also, there are 11 research centres within the Faculty of Philosophy: Balkan Peace Studies Center, Center for Inter-cultural Studies and Research, Center for Integrative Bioethics, Center for Education and Research, Poll-Research Center, National Center for Continuous Education for Social Development, Center for Preparation and Application of Tests, National Information Center for Special Education and Rehabilitation Research, Center for Educational Support of Roma people (CEPOR), Center for History Textbooks (CUI) and Center for Human Resource Management. The Faculty of Philosophy in Skopje also holds the UNESCO Chair in Inter-cultural Studies and Research, established in 2014. The Chair is member of the UNiTWIN network of UNESCO Chairs on inter-religious and inter-cultural dialogue. As a result of its scientific, educational and research achievements, in 2006 the Faculty of Philosophy in Skopje has been awarded the Honorary order by the then-President of the Republic of Macedonia. The same year, the Faculty of Philosophy in Skopje received the National Award “11 Oktomvri” for its contribution in science and education.
In relation to its international partners, as a part of UKIM, the Faculty of Philosophy in Skopje has established cooperation and joint educational programs, double and joint degrees, including research projects in the European programs and bilateral partners, exchange, mobility, organization of scientific and other academic events. The Faculty of Philosophy is a member of the UNICA, ERA, CEEPUS, EUA, IAU, UNI-ADRION Academic networks and has taken part in the Erasmus Mundus Networks. Currently, the Faculty of Philosophy is a partner in five international scientific projects (one HORIZON 2020 project and one project within the CEEPUS network), and three bilateral projects.
In terms of learning management tools, the Faculty uses the iKNOW system of UKIM. It is used as a mechanism for overall monitoring of the study process, starting from the enrollment of students, electronic student support services and student files, to attendance registration for the students and teachers. The Faculty possesses modest digital infrastructure, composed of limited electronic libraries that provide access mainly to periodicals and journals published by the Faculty itself. In this respect, the main impact of the project aims to provide students with improved access to an enhanced learning management tool, equipped to enable direct access to all study programs and modules, with accessibility for students with special educational needs.
The Faculty of Philosophy in Skopje enjoys high reputation and long standing tradition in interdisciplinary research in Humanities and Social Sciences, both nationally and within international projects and activities. The research and teaching staff of the Faculty of Philosophy have been part of numerous scientific and applicative projects that have improved quality of higher education, with a special emphasis on improved access to higher education among vulnerable groups of students.
The experience of the key persons involved in this project stems from the continuous participation in research teams of comparative projects assessing the quality in all levels of education, undertaking research related to modernisation of teaching of children with special educational needs, experience in mapping the practices for inclusive education in Macedonia and selected European countries, assessment of teacher attitudes towards children with special education needs in mainstream schools in Macedonia, teaching courses at all tertiary levels related to social inclusion, inclusive education of hearing and visually impaired children, functional assessment of specific learning disabilities (dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, dyspraxia); methods of treatment of children with specific learning difficulties, applying the sensor system Carry for smart analysis of data related to habits of people with disabilities, etc.
Hence, the main skills of the key project team include: capacity to map and identify specific education needs of students with disabilities, capacity to modify and adjust learning management tools to reflect specific needs of an inclusive educational system, strong background in research and critical thinking related to alteration of digital skills among students in general, and particular among students with special educational needs. As for the computational skills and experience, the team members are experienced in working with both small and large data sets and databases, educational and edutainment software development and application, affordable student-oriented software front-end design, as well as UI and UX design with special regard to students with disabilities.
The team:
Aleksandra Karovska Ristovska is an assistant professor at the Department of Special Education and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Skopje, Macedonia.
Aleksandra is currently teaching courses related to Early intervention and early education of children with impaired hearing, Specific learning difficulties (dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia and dyspraxia) and Psycho-motor reeducation. She was a Fulbright Visiting Scholar at George Mason University – USA and has worked on many national and international project in the field of Special education and rehabilitation.
Olivera Rashikj-Canevska is an associate professor at the Department of Special Education and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Skopje, Macedonia.
Since November 2017, she is editor-in-chief of the multidisciplinary peer-reviewed Journal of Special education and rehabilitation. She is a member of the executive board of the Macedonian Scientific Society for Autism and a member of the Assembly of the NGO Open the Windows. Her work focuses on research, assessments and practical application of knowledge in special education and rehabilitation, more specific early detection and intervention, education and treatment of persons with motor impairments in the direction of improving the quality of their life and their complete integration in the society.
Alma Tasevska is an associate professor at the Department of Pedagogy, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Skopje, Macedonia.
She holds a PhD in Pedagogical Sciences and is an expert in Education focused on Family Pedagogy, Play and Play Activities in Early Child Development and Alternative Approaches to Teaching. Alma has 15 years of continuing academic experience, as well as scientific and research experience in educational national and international projects.
Nikola Minov was born on 8 September 1979 in Skopje, where he finished all levels of education. Since 2015, he works as an assistant professor of Modern European History at the Department of History, Faculty of Philosophy in Skopje. He currently teaches courses that cover the history of Europe and the World 1648 to 1914, the Eastern Question and the Enlightenment in Europe in the 18th century.
His research is focused on the social, intellectual and political history of Ottoman Macedonia. His diverse scholarly interests include social and intellectual history of Europe in the 18th and 19th centuries, Idea and Ideology, the Eastern Question, Imperialism, state sponsored propaganda, history of education and history of social mobility.
Vojislav Sarakinski (1975) is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Philosophy in Skopje, Macedonia, currently teaching four subjects pertaining to ancient history. He holds a B.A. in classical philology, as well as an M.A. and Ph.D. in ancient history.
His main subjects of interest are the history of the Mediterranean world in the preclassical and early classical period, indoeuropean linguistics, ancient economies, and quite a few more. In addition, he studies the various ways of interpreting, constructing and deconstructing ancient narrative sources. In his free time, he tends to procrastinate on Reddit and build epic structures in Minecraft Creative. You can find a part of his work on academia.edu.
Fostering Accessible Study Technologies 