Snoezelen concept is now regarded as an innovative method whose aim it is to encourage a person with disability or disadvantage to be active by means of sensory stimulation thanks to a unique environment created. Snoezelen uses and combines numerous therapeutic, educational and relaxation activities which enhance the quality of life and purposefully promote human development. The concept was already created in the 1970s in the Netherlands and its development is evident throughout the world. Its professional patronage is formed by the International Snoezelen Association (ISNA-MSE), which brings together professionals from all over the world and organises regular meetings at international conferences.
The project Support of Snoezelen and its Integration into University Education is focused on the development and expansion of Snoezelen in university education. Specifically, the proposed project concerns the inclusion of the innovative course Snoezelen in the instruction of students of special education, educational psychology, and social, therapeutic and rehabilitative fields. The main objective of the project is to prepare comprehensive instruction methodology and syllabus of the course "Snoezelen" at an international tertiary-educational level so that the course is applicable in international student mobility.
The development of the helping professions is currently essential for the goals of social policy and inclusion of people with special needs. The strategic partnership of the project will ensure, in addition to the outputs related to the development of an innovative educational course, also further comparative discussion, experiences and opportunities for scientific research activities of the participants. The created Snoezelen course will expand the opportunities for incoming and outgoing students and academics to travel abroad, thus supporting the internationalisation of smaller regional universities. Sharing a large amount of information about the Snoezelen concept is a driver for further development of the disciplines in which it is implemented.
The partial project outputs that are related to its objective are:
· publication of an expert monograph and partial articles on the subject of the Snoezelen concept and its teaching
· creation of video recordings and a set of complementary case studies for teaching purposes
· the creation of a "Snoezelen" course for student mobility.
The target group are university teachers and students. The outputs of the project activities will affect both future students of such programmes who will have newly conceived course in the fields of helping professions, and teachers who can increase professional competence and through cooperation with foreign partners broaden the adequate outputs, such as articles and professional publications, influencing further the theory of Snoezelen.
The three cooperating universities who constitute the partnership include a team from the Czech Republic from the Faculty of Public Policies, Silesian University in Opava, a team from the Republic of Poland from the Faculty of Rehabilitation, Academie Wychowanie Fizycznego im. Bronislaw Czecha, Cracow and a team from the Kingdom of Spain from the Faculty of Education, Pycholology and Social Affairs, University of Lleida (Facultat d’Educació, Psicologia i Treball Social de la Universitat de Lleida). By profile, the team from the Czech Republic focuses on the education and development of people with disabilities and social disadvantages. The team from the Republic of Poland is profiled in leisure-time, therapeutic and vocational rehabilitation. The team from Spain directs their activities in the field of educational psychology, counselling, recreational and therapeutic work with various clients.
The international partnership undoubtedly brings specific value to the proposed project, as the unification of contents of instruction of the course at the university level will help create a methodically structured instruction model focused on Snoezelen, which is currently missing completely. Consequently, it is possible to further develop the subject, strengthen and clarify its content, and make it more transparent throughout the European area.
