finished
My SWPS University — Accessible University
principal investigator / project leader
Experienced executive specializing in managing large teams and strategic projects in the public and private sector
Full bio project value: PLN 4,062,634
SWPS University’s budget: PLN 121,880
funding source: National Centre for Research and Development
discipline: not applicable
research center: SWPS University
location: cross-university project
duration: 2021 2022 2023
Since October 2021, SWPS University has been implementing the project "My SWPS University – An Accessible Campus," co-financed by the European Union through the European Social Fund (Knowledge Education Development Operational Programme 2014–2020).
Our university was awarded funding for this initiative through the National Centre for Research and Development competition, "Accessible University" (POWR.03.05.00-00-A047/21-00). The total grant amount is PLN 4,062,634.90. The project is scheduled for implementation from November 1, 2021, to October 31, 2023.
The solutions to be developed and implemented at the university aim to ensure equal access to education for students with disabilities, at all levels of education.
The "Accessible University" competition defines three levels of advancement: Mini, Midi, and Maxi. The activities planned at SWPS University will allow us to achieve a level of accessibility consistent with the "Midi" pathway — a significant increase in university accessibility for persons with disabilities.
Project objectives
As part of the project, we will develop a methodology for validating learning outcomes tailored to the needs of students with disabilities, alongside a database of best practices regarding accessibility in education. University staff will participate in training sessions focused on the specific requirements of working with individuals with disabilities.
Furthermore, we will implement new IT solutions and organizational changes, including expanding the scope of the Accessibility, Scholarship and Student Activity Center — the university unit dedicated to accessibility issues. The project also encompasses the removal of selected architectural barriers.
Project tasks and expected outcomes
The following tasks have been planned:
- Restructuring the Accessibility, Scholarship and Student Activity Center
We will expand the operational scope of the Accessibility, Scholarship and Student Activity Center. The team will be bolstered by the addition of activity and support coordinators, including a national coordinator and regional coordinators at branch campuses. Their responsibilities will extend beyond administrative support for students with disabilities; they will focus on fostering relationships with students and academic staff, activating the student community, and providing psychological, legal, and specialized assistance.
The implementation of these measures will be preceded by comprehensive research into existing barriers and the specific needs of both students with disabilities and academic staff.
- Barrier-Free Infrastructure
We will remove selected architectural barriers across three university campuses. In Warsaw, the Accessibility, Scholarship and Student Activity Center will undergo a spatial redesign. Additionally, elevators will be installed at our branch campuses in Katowice and Wrocław.
These efforts aim to improve building accessibility in alignment with the standards established by the "Barrier-Free Facility" certification from the Integration Foundation (Fundacja Integracja).
- Assistive Technologies
To streamline student services, we will:
- Implement a tool for effective student case management that enables personalized communication
- Introduce a student onboarding process, providing tailored information essential at every stage of the academic journey
- Expand our internal knowledge base regarding student affairs
- Introduce automated forms to simplify the application process
- Establish a network of individual online advisors, accessible to everyone regardless of time or location
- Implement a new queue management system for in-person services on university campuses
All new tools will comply with WCAG standards for web and mobile application accessibility.
- Educational Support: Validating Learning Outcomes for Students with Disabilities
We are committed to ensuring that students with visual, hearing, or physical impairments, as well as those with mental health conditions or autism spectrum disorders, can complete their course assessments through methods tailored to their specific needs and capabilities. To achieve this, we will develop a catalog of adaptations for verifying learning outcomes for these students, along with implementation procedures accessible to all SWPS University academic staff.
- Best Practice Database, E-learning Course, and Specialized Training
We will establish a database of best practices regarding the education of students with visual, hearing, and physical impairments, mental health conditions, and autism spectrum disorders.
Furthermore, we will develop a multimedia e-learning course focused on human rights and the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities or those experiencing educational barriers. Participation in this course will be mandatory for all members of the academic community.
We will also conduct specialized training sessions designed to raise disability awareness among students, academic staff, and administrative personnel at SWPS University.
Starting from the 2023/2024 academic year, these newly developed solutions will become a compulsory part of the onboarding process for both new and current staff and students.
- Procedure – Rector’s Regulation
We recognize the need for a systemic approach to accessibility and the elimination of barriers. We will analyze existing internal documents in this area to develop a Rector’s Regulation on university accessibility, covering all aspects addressed by the project.
The new internal procedures will ensure the involvement of the Accessibility, Scholarship and Student Activity Center in all activities related to the removal of barriers.
Project team
- Marta Komor, Director of the Communication and Customer Services Department, tasks no. 1, 3, 5, 6.
- Jolanta Kubuj, Head of the Accessibility, Scholarship and Student Activity Center, task no. 1.
- Rafał Furtak, Director of Facilities Management, tasks no. 2.
- Anna Ziółkowksa, Ph.D., Dean of the Faculty of Psychology and Law in Poznań Director of the Communication and Customer Services Department, coordinator of the education advisors team, task no. 4.
- Joanna Jeśman, Ph.D., Vice-Dean for Educational Affairs, Faculty of Design in Warsaw, expert in the development of innovative teaching formats, task no. 5.
- Paulina Kuć, Specialist at the Accessibility, Scholarship and Student Activity Center, task no. 6.
- Agata Siedlaczek, Project Coordinator, Office of the Director General
- Magdalena Fajfer, Project Coordinator, Office of the Director General
- Bernadetta Wojtania, Project Supervisor, Specialist at the Development Projects Office
Information Meeting
In connection with the publication of a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the design, implementation, and production launch of an AI tool — either within the university's existing Salesforce environment or as a related tool integrated with Salesforce — we held an open meeting for potential contractors. The objective of this session was to gather market insights to assist the university in drafting the detailed Description of the Subject Matter of the Contract.
This initiative was part of the project titled "My SWPS University – An Increasingly Accessible University," co-financed by structural funds.
The online meeting, which was open to all interested entities, took place on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, at 10:00 CET via the Google Meet platform. The session lasted one hour.
Thank you to all who participated.