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PEKTUR Programm ta' Edukazzjoni Kontinwa, Tahrig u Ricerka (Continuing Education, Training & Research Programme) Some of the files on this website are made available in PDF file format. This file format can be opened and viewed using the Acrobat Reader Software.

INTRODUCTION

The Kummissjoni Nazzjonali Persuni b'Dizabilita' (KNPD), or National Commission Persons with Disability, recognises the pressing need to have an adequate number of professionals working in different fields related to Disability and that their work is supported by applied, scientific research. In order to help in meeting this need, in 1996 the Commission established a Training and Research Programme. This Programme aims at responding creatively and flexibly to current disability issues as they relate to all levels of Maltese Society.

ACHIEVING EXCELLENCE THROUGH LEARNING AND RESEARCH

Whether you are a person with a disability, or a parent of an individual with a disability, an under-graduate, a recent graduate or an experienced professional, the Training and Research Programme provides an opportunity for sharing experiences and enrichment, further education, training and undertaking applied research. Its learning and research programmes will be of interest to persons with disabilities and their families, other concerned individuals, practitioners, administrators, policy makers and educators in a variety of human services sectors.

PROVIDING CREATIVE, FLEXIBLE PROGRAMMES

A number of approaches are used to reach and respond to your needs as a student, a practitioner, a researcher, an interested individual or a family member, etc. The programme provides you with the opportunity to benefit from each other's experience, research and expertise in the field, as well as from university educators and researchers.

The objective is for the programme to link day to day activities with current research and policy. Programming includes professional development seminars, mini-courses, special training projects in partnership with other organisations and limited grants to individuals who are pursuing further training, further education and research in priority areas identified from time by KNPD.

Such grants are given subject to availability of funds and beneficiaries are expected to contribute to the Training and Research Programme and the disability sector in Malta according to the grant awarded.

ADAPTING TO CURRENT REALITIES

The Training and Research Programme is needs driven, according to priority areas of development in the disability sector in Malta. Creative learning opportunities and applied research in new and specialised fields will be explored. Consultation and collaboration between persons with disabilities and their families, different professionals and different organisations will be encouraged.

PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

The Training and Research Programme operates under the direction of the Ministry for Social Policy, as part of the resource development services of KNPD.

Activities are carried out by a Management Committee made up of five (5) persons, including the Chairperson. The members are chosen on their individual merit. The Committee shall include at least two (2) persons who are themselves disabled persons, or close relatives of persons with intellectual disability. The administration and management of the programme are carried out by a Programme Co-ordinator appointed by KNPD.

KNPD makes an annual endowment to this Programme

SELECTION

Activities are open to all those who can benefit from them. The Programme will also offer financial assistance to organisations and individual undertaking training or reset.

In order to select candidates who will benefit from such financial assistance, the Management Board may, from time to time, issue public calls for applications. The number of calls issued in one year may vary depending on funds available.

The Board allocates available funds to those who, in their opinion, most merit them according to parameters laid out the statute. The Management Committee reserves the right not to make an award if it feels that the proposals are not up to the required standard, or do not fall within any of the current priority areas identified by KNPD.

Applicants who have NOT already received PEKTUR grants will normally be given preference over those applicants who have already received such grants.

In its deliberations the Board may request expert advice of persons from outside its membership.

In exceptional cases, the Board may award financial assistance to a training programme, or research project, not through this procedure ---provided that such a decision is also approved by KNPD.

The decisions of the Board are final.

Appendix A gives a full list of the criteria used by the Selection Boards when giving points to each proposal.

PRIORITY AREAS

Priority areas identified by KNPD include:

1. Continuing education and training opportunities for persons with disabilities &/or their families
2. Training courses/ programmes and research projects in:
   • community care;
   • challenging behaviour;
   • the teaching of Braille and IT skills to blind &/ or visually impaired persons;
   • deaf education;
   • supported living.
3. Research projects to study:
   • the financial conditions of persons with disability (with a view to reviewing current financial/ social security benefits;
   • the quality of life of persons with a disability living in institutional care;
   • employment opportunities (open, sheltered and supported employment);
   • to study the housing needs of persons with disability, and
   • sport and leisure activities to improve the quality of life of disabled persons.

The Committee does not exclude the possibility of voting funds for a project which is outside the priority areas indicated above, but which is deemed of national importance to persons with disability &/or their families.

A NOTE ON CONFERENCES

PEKTUR regrets that it is unable to finance standard expenses for attendance at conferences (overseas, or local).

However, in keeping with KNPD's policy of providing equal opportunities for disabled persons, PEKTUR will still consider providing limited financial assistance to cover the extra costs of disability, such as: personal assistance, sign language interpretation, use of special transport, etc.

Appendix A

SELECTION CRITERIA

Each application will be assessed on the following criteria:

1. Project PRIORITY rating.
2. OUTCOME priority rating.
3. BUDGET feasibility rating.
4. TIME-SCALE feasibility rating.
5. Overall project FEASIBILITY rating.
6. Rating of the immediate/medium/long-term BENEFITS of derived from the project
7. ACTIVE PARTICIPATION of persons with disability &/or their families in the project.
8. The extent to which the proposer/s has/ have benefited from PEKTUR funding in the last two calendar years.
9. The extent to which the project makes use of other sources of funding? (Can funds be identified through other sources?)
10. Other considerations, if necessary.

Speak Out / Semma Lehnek