Isabelle De Ridder Flemish Education Council

2. Balancing expertise, societal input and political control in the production of policy advice: the Flemish Education Council as an actor of change in the policy on students with disabilities in higher education Isabelle De Ridder Flemish Education Council

3. Flemish Education Council (VLOR) I • = the strategic advisory council for the Education and Training policy of the Flemish Community; • plays an important role in the Flemish policymakingprocess; • an advisory body: • gives advice on request of the Flemish Minister of Education and Training; • gives advice on its own initiative;

4. Flemish Education Council (VLOR) II • stands for advice, consultation, study and services; • translates the expectations and suggestions of society and the educational field into recommendations for the government; • evaluates the propositions of the minister;

5. Flemish Education Council (VLOR) III • reflects on the outlines of certain educational policies; • draws attention to themes that might become important in the near future; • is organised by level of education: council for higher education.

6. COMPROMISE Flemish Education Council (VLOR) IV socio cultural and economic partners experts government staff institutionsof higher education students

7. Minister of Education and Training Policy plans Recommendations Adviceonowninitiative FLEMISH EDUCATION COUNCIL (VLOR) SOCIETY EDUCATIONAL FIELD Expectations and proposals

8. Cycle of Flemish policy making Administration / Minister Government decision preparation consultation advice FLEMISH EDUCATION COUNCIL (VLOR) parliament Government Amendements and voting society Juridicaladvice implementation

9. CHANGE TROUGH CONSULTATION AND DEBATE

10. Equal opportunities in higher education and VLOR I • Diversity as a surplus value in higher education: the act of commitment (2005) • Commitments of each of the partners of the Council; • VLOR: exchange of good practices on a regular basis (annually) • Diversity in higher education as a major policy theme (2006) CHANGE IN MENTALITY

11. Equalopportunities in higher education and VLOR II • Diversity in higher education as a major policy theme for the Council • Commission of students with a disability • ADVICE ON: • Inclusive higher education; • Registration of students with a disability; • Funding of students with disabilities; • The implementation of the VN-convention for persons with disabilities.

12. Equalopportunities in higher education and VLOR III • Diversity in higher education: • Registration of under represented groups; • Funding of under represented groups.

13. CHANGE TROUGH CONSULTATION AND DEBATE

14. Inclusivehigher education • Responsibilities of • Government • Institutions of higher education • Students • will of the government to legalize inclusive higher education

15. Registration of students with disabilities in higher education • Proposition of • procedure • documents Constant plea for legalization by stakeholders • used in ¾ of the Flemish higher education institutions

16. Funding of students with disabilities in higher education • Demonstration of the need of extra funding for students with disabilities • DEBATE on: • definition • recognised groups • principle of ceiling • extra funding for students with disabilities through 1.5-weighing of achieved study points

17. Implementation of the UN-convention • Demonstration of the need of implementation and flaws in legislation for students with disabilities • ongoing debate

18. Diversity in higher education • Proposition of definition of under represented groups • Proposition of registration of under represented groups • Demonstration of the need of extra funding • Responsibilities of government, institutions and students • DEBATE on: • definition • recognised groups • registration • need of structural funding • Extra funding for under represented groups

19. CHANGE TROUGH CONSULTATION AND DEBATE

20. Thankyouforyourattention! Questions? isabelle.deridder@vlor.be