The Pedagogical University of Krakow (PUK) hosted the first project meeting of the ASD-EAST project, Erasmus+ partnership 24th-26th September 2018 at the Main Building of PUK in Krakow.

19 partners from universities, special and inclusive schools, and local autism organisations from Croatia, Republic of North Macedonia, Poland, Belgium (via Skype) and the UK; met to discuss the general project assumptions and tasks to be done during two years of co-operation. The meeting was opened by vice-dean of Pedagogical Faculty dr Jan Franczyk, who expressed cordial wishes of fruitful cooperation to the project coordinator dr. David Preece and to all participants.

The first step was to present the partner institutions and people engaged in the project activities to build the strong and responsive partnership. There were brief presentations about the partners as well as about education and inclusion in Croatia, Republic of North Macedonia and Poland as well as the support for autistic children. The fundamental theoretical assumptions of the project were shared as well as administration and management regulations to make all familiar with objective and their responsibility. The timetable was planned with all outputs and dissemination events at national and European level.

During the first transnational meeting, the project team visited the School No 12. The school headmaster presented the support system for children on the autism spectrum form the practical perspective in reference to the inclusion statement.

The project meeting was directly connected to the International Scientific Conference FOCUS on AUTISM which was hold in the Pedagogical University on 27th-29th September 2018 consisted of many interested lectures by experts from all over the world. The conference abstract book is attached Focus.

The project team will gather for the second transnational meeting in January 2019 in Northampton (UK) to discuss the core curriculum of the created teacher training programmes as well as other issues related to the project implementation.

Dr Joanna Kossewska
Department of Psychology
Pedagogical University of Cracow