New Perspectives in Science Education

This report highlights a good practice by studying the experience from teaching the mandatory academic course “Accessible Tourism” for education and qualification degree “Bachelor”, specialty „Information Resources for Tourism” at University of Library Studies and Information Technologies (ULSIT). The course has been taught since AY 2012/2013, it is well received by students, and is new in the professional field 3.5. Public Communications and Information Sciences in Bulgaria. In 2010, the European Union (EU) adopted the European Disability Strategy 2010-2020: A Renewed Commitment to a Barrier-Free Europe. This strategic document sets out the measures for implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) of the United Nations (UN) by the European institutions and suggests the commitment of all stakeholders at national and European level. In pursuance of its engagements as a EU member state, Bulgaria implements: National Strategy for Persons with Disabilities (NSPD) (2008-2015), National Strategy for Persons with Disabilities 2016-2020 and Action Plan of the Republic of Bulgaria on the implementation of the UN CRPD (2015-2020). The implementation of the NSPD (2008-2015) requires to introduce disciplines on this topic in universities’ curricula. The University of Library Studies and Information Technology (ULSIT) has met this need of academic study of students by means of the introduction of such thematic courses as “Accessible Tourism”. The course gives students theoretical and practical knowledge on accessible tourism for people with special needs. The discipline studies the problems faced not only by people with different disabilities, but also of other groups of people with special needs, for example, elderly people at the age of 65+, families with children, travelling with a lot of luggage etc. This paper introduces the contents, the teaching methods and the student assessment mode applied in the course. Special attention is given to teaching methods that enhance student empathy and motivation and increase student involvement in a variety of extra curricular activities such as on place interviews and case studies at cultural institutions and other tourist sites for evaluation the accessibility achievements and problems. Special attention is given to the Access City Award of the European Commission as source of best practices and inspiration, which could be followed. In 2019, Bachelor Thesis about Plovdiv (Bulgaria) as accessible city, which hold the title of European Capital of Culture 2019, together with Matera (Italy), was realized.       

Keywords: accessible tourism, people with special needs, higher education, Bulgaria, European Disability Strategy 2010-2020, Access City Award