Access Center establishment

The Access Center was established by Rector of Technical university of Košice as a special pedagogical workplace on July 1, 2000 and it is output of TEMPUS Phare project. AC is located at the TU  Košice and it serves also for two others Universities in Košice, University of Pavel Jozef Šafárik in Košice and University of Veterinary medicine in Košice.

Participating Institutions

  • University of P. J. Šafárik, Košice
  • University of Veterinary Medicine in Košice
  • SIVA, Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, Milano (I)
  • University of Bristol, Bristol (UK)

AC TUKE  in accordance with § 100, section 8, Act no. 131/2002 Coll. on Higher Education Institutions performs tasks resulting from its over institutional national function of methodological, knowledge and coordination center in Slovakia, as one of two special educational institution to support study of students with special needs.

Status and Mission of Access Center TUKE

AC TUKE  is the workplace with a university competence at TUKE , which is managed by the Vice-Rector for education. The main mission of the access center is an organization, coordination, information and management activities focused on creating of accessible academic environment and the creation of appropriate conditions for students with special needs without reducing the demands on their academic performance.BBC TUKE cooperates with the coordinators for students with special needs at universities in Slovakia, as well as other specialized organizations in this field.

Areas of Activity of Access Center 

The main area of  AC TUKE activity is carried out  technical, advisory, methodical, knowledge, and training activities to support students with special needs before and during higher education and providing of information and advisory services for public and university teachers in the field.

Main services

  • cooperation with management of Faculties and Universities in creation of better conditions for students with disabilities
  • coordination between three involved universities in Košice
  • counselling, advisory and technical support
  • training of students in special technology usage
  • training of teachers how to teach
  • developing and printing of different information materials
  • study materials transformation in digital or audial form
  • maintainance of a database of voluntary workers
  • cooperation with Ministry of education and the third sector
  • coordination of international projects

Access Center has a wide range of assistive technology hardware and software. The facility is primarily used by students who are blind, have visual impairments, physical limitations, who require the use of a variety of assistive technologies.

Access Center Assistive Technology Specialist assists students in assessing, evaluating, applying and using a variety of assistive technology, computers and software that can offset the effects of a disability.

BBC TUKE in line with its main mission fullfil the following duties:

  • cooperates with the management of TUKE  and  faculties  in creation of conditions for the admission of candidates with special needs into higher education, as well as during the study of students with special needs,
  • evaluates the specific needs of prospective students in cooperation with the coordinators for students with special needs at the faculties of TUKE, as well as at other universities,
  • performs counseling for applicants, students, teachers and other TUKE staff  regarding students with specific needs,
  • provides technical and material support for students with special needs in the areas of: 

1. training of students for using of assistive technology

2. training for university teachers

3. preparation and publication of information materials

4. preparation of study materials in non-standard formats

5. Cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport and the third sector

6.  coordination of international projects in this field within TUKE

BBC TUKE in implementing its tasks cooperates with:

  • vice-Rector and Vice-deans for educational activities at the TUKE
  • coordinators of faculties and universities
  • representatives of institutions associating people with special needs
  • heads of secondary schools with an integrated study of the disabled
  • voluntary workers according to current needs
  • others invited teachers and other professionals, as appropriate

Organizačný poriadok Bezbariérového centra Technickej univerzity v Košiciach