What do we do?

WP1 will pass through the following stages:

1. Benchmarking HEI service-learning practices across Europe and gathering best practices,
2. Benchmarking existing mapping solutions – mapping websites on the accessibility of cities, localities, institutions – across Europe,
3. Gathering internal partner feedback and carrying out focus groups, surveys, exploratory walks to aggregate external multi-stakeholder feedback,
4. Analysis of the data and defining the issues, stakeholder needs and requirements, application of specific techniques and tools for generating solutions,
5. Defining the service-learning pedagogical approach to be applied within the project,

Consolidating the information gathered to define the overall Map4Accessibility methodology, including Service-Learning Pedagogical Methodology.

The app and website will provide precise and double-checked information about accessible places at the city level. It will be co-created with the active support of the target HEI students, representatives, and other relevant stakeholders – local citizens, accessibility environment specialists (architects, urban planners, etc.), city representatives. The mapping tools will to be used during the HEI-based Service-Learning activities. Students from the European Center for Digital Competitiveness from ESCP Berlin will be actively engaged in the content development and the design of the Guide with the activity being included as part of their curriculum in ESCP Business School – Berlin campus.

WP3 will actively engage, train and lead HEI students from 4 case studies to conduct service learning ECST activities – exploratory and urban walks – in their cities. Once the app has been designed and developed, and the first build released, the project will enter the piloting phase.

The piloting will aim to test:

1. Service-Learning activities and the experience of the students involved,
2. The web accessibility of the mapping website and app. A cascade assessment process will be carried out:
3. a) disability accessibility of the mapping website and app,
4. b) assessment of the user interface,
5. c) assessment of the process for inputting content and leaving reviews.
6. Ability of the mapping tools to achieve their main purpose – map the physical and web accessibility of various objects. A handbook on Applications of Service Learning for accessibility and inclusivity of HEI students will be realised at the end of the WP3.

Within the framework of the WP3, the following main activities will be done:

o 4 Exploratory walks will be carried out as explained in task 3.1. The service-learning activity will be the exploratory walks aiming to identify issues that limit possibilities to access public space and exploring solutions to adapt to the needs of the disabled people, women, children, the elderly, local citizens. The Exploratory Walks will engage 10-15 stakeholders per local setting, for a total of approximately 50 people engaged and will gather relevant information useful as well as work as a basic training activity for the urban walks to be conducted by each HEI.

o 4 urban walks with HEIs will be carried out engaging a total of 50 people per location or 200 people for all four locations. The urban walks will provide the quantitative data through mapping of the urban environment to respond to these needs. The walks, also called case studies, will be done in the cities of the students. Students from all universities will receive academic credits for their involvement in the activities.

These activities will be carried out in 4 cities: Catania (Italy), Blagoevgrad (Bulgaria), Berlin (Germany) and Lisbon (Portugal). The local HEI partners will be the responsible for each exploratory and urban walk.

WP4 deals with the ongoing communication, dissemination of the project’s results to the largest possible audience. It aims to maximise the project’s visibility, support the Service-Learning methodology, engage stakeholders in a continuous dialogue and as contributors to the mapping activities, raise awareness of the project to the wider public, and promote the activities, tools and results of the project.

WP4 will:

• Create the proper promotion and sharing project tools, including a promotion, and sharing plan,
• Create general promotion and sharing at the hyperlocal, local and EU level,
• Network and engage with projects, organisations, and campaigns with similar purposes,
• Organise a final conference to ensure the replication of the project’s results and mapping tools at a broader scale,
• Condense best practices and lessons learnt to create an open access book (PR5) to serve as a toolkit for HEI institutions and cities on how to best foster physical and digital accessibility.

WP5 aims to ensure that there is an efficient coordination and communication between consortium partners. Respect of the deadlines, quality of deliverables and reports will be verified. This will be implemented thanks to a quality plan and various management tools.

WP5 will:

• Ensure the optimal coordination of human and financial resources,
• Optimise the integration and interrelation between WP activities,
• Ensure the functioning and efficiency of the Steering Committee,
• Monitor of the project and the quality of the work,
• Ensure the timely and appropriate reporting to the Italian National Agency