The mission of Loyola College, USA includes support of those who need a little extra help, and international education is a particular theme. Thus this program of providing assistance to the deaf and hard-of-hearing community in Ukraine is particularly appropriate. Its University partner in Ukraine is Drahomanov National pedagogical university - the institution charged with higher education for this community. Within the framework of the international project the Ukrainian Distance Learning (UDL) system has been created, that now provides a complete portfolio of courses and training in Business and Third Sector Development. After adaptation these courses will be made available to Ukraine's deaf community via Internet, greatly assisting them in competing for jobs and markets in the tough economic situation there. Other courses specifically designed for the community can be developed with the assistance of the National Deaf Business Institute.

Action Plan

• Defining main training areas, according to which distance learning programs for the deaf will be developed;
• Selecting teachers and trainers for adaptation of distance learning courses for the deaf;
• Developing web-portal for e-courses design and management;
• Orientation workshop in Distance Learning Methodology;
• Organizing distance learning of the deaf in Business Management programs;
• Internship of teachers at Loyola College, Maryland, USA (July 2004) – “Asynchronous Learning and Professional Development”;
• Teaching practice in virtual environment.

Expected Results:

• Trained group of teachers for organizing distance learning of the deaf. A month-long short course will be held at Loyola in the summer of 2004 to train ten deaf teachers in the creation of Web-based material. U.S. teachers will also make exchange visits to conduct workshops in Ukraine.
• Developed training and methodological program in Surdo-Pedagogy in virtual learning environment.
• Developed e-courses in social adaptation of the deaf.
• Introduced e-learning technology in the learning process. The UDL organization in Ukraine will facilitate transfer of existing courses and expertise, including installation of a Web server for the new Deaf Workforce Education (DWE) system, plus a workstation for DWE access in 25 existing Cultural / Educational Centers for the deaf, located in each region of Ukraine.
• Provided open access to professional development of the deaf through the distance learning. Within the framework of this project at least 38 Web-based distance learning courses in business methods will be created or adapted for Ukraine's deaf community .
• Developed corporate training program for UTOH using e-Learning technology.

Once the US State Department has created the Deaf Workforce Education system, the Ukrainian partners can sustain it indefinitely as a means of delivering web-based learning to their community, throughout the country.

Deaf Workforce Education in Ukraine Project is a Partnership between:

• Loyola College, USA
• National Deaf Business Institute, USA (NDBI)
• M.Drahomanov National pedagogical university, Ukraine
• Ukrainian Distance Learning (UDL) System, Ukraine
• Ukrainian Deaf Association (UTOH), Ukraine