Pécsi Tudományegyetem

The University of Pécs is an internationally renowned institution, where a large number of foreign students and teachers can spend shorter or longer period. Our Department - the Support Service for students with disabilities –seeks to contribute to the disadvantaged young people to be able to fulfil their studies successfully, in order to reach the level of equal opportunities in the society. The University of Pécs was the first in Hungary to establish a support service in order to facilitate the everyday life of disabled students and lecturers (e.g. having dyslexia, dyscalculia, physical disability, visual impairment, hearing impairment, etc.). Our services are free for registered students and university employees. As a hosting organisation we are motivated to host volunteers, especially foreigner volunteers because of the social nature of our service and also the growing international, intercultural nature of the University. Volunteers could contribute to develop the quality of care for Hungarian students and make the service more colourful and exciting. In addition, throughout these exchange programs the participants would have the opportunity to learn from each other also while using their foreign language skills. As a sender organisation we find it important to open the world for students with disabilities in the framework of EVS to obtain relevant work experience, to enrich their intercultural experiences. This way they will be able to integrate in the labour market in an easier manner. Several volunteers work with us who have a great interest in getting international experiences in any ways. In order to increase the international relationship and experience of our university and department it would be a great chance for us to send volunteers who could represent our values and working methods abroad gained working with us. After coming home we can learn new things from them obtained during the voluntary service. Meanwhile they could be our ‘”ambassadors” to build new useful vocational relationships.