The intervention of the universities in development cooperation projects. Teacher training for Special Education in Cuzco

Abstract

Nowadays, the universities expand their action to the intemational and social frame. On the one hand, they commit themselves to ajob involving teaching and investigation and on the other hand, they carry out an educative and sociallabour. Within this framework, our project of teaching future teachers, developed in two promotions ( 2000- 2005) has been a clear example of the efforts of university cooperation and of the cooperation to the development ofthe different organisms, autonomic communities and town halls in Spain. Several elements have made this possible: the cooperation ofthe sponsors, the study ofthe reality in Cusco made by people living there and the unselfish intervention of different specialists. One hundred and thirty teachers have specialised in Special Education in Cusco and its surrounding provinces. This means a great achievement to improve the teachers work and a great aim in the search of equality ofrights for the students with special needs. In addition, the centres specialised in Special Education have worked as tutors of the students in the second speciality in Special Education. This means they have collaborated with the university creating links between the tutor at university, the tutor in the classroom and the student in the processs ofspecialization, guaranteeing the learning process in the classroom. Theory and practice have beenjoined to create a reflexive and inquiring teacher so needed today to pay attention to the diversity ofstudents within a classroom.