Public Lecture: Students in need of extra support in higher education

Prof. Ann-Katrin Swärd and Prof. Caroline Berggren from the Department of Education and Special Education, University of Gothenburg paid a visit to the University of Nairobi to forge a long term Linnaeus-Palme collaboration with funding from SIDA.

During this visit, Prof Ann-Katrin Swärd gave a public lecture on Students in need of extra support in higher education on 26th February 2020 at the University Towers.

Prof. Ann-Katrin Swärd and Prof. Caroline Berggren from the Department of Education and Special Education, University of Gothenburg paid a visit to the University of Nairobi to forge a long term Linnaeus-Palme collaboration with funding from SIDA.

During this visit, Prof Ann-Katrin Swärd gave a public lecture on Students in need of extra support in higher education on 26th February 2020 at the University Towers. The Lecture highlighted various interventions the Swedish government has implemented to ensure special needs students receive all the support they need. Prof Ann-Katrin has conducted various research studies that show students in need of support have increased at universities around the world. In Sweden, there are three times more students in need of special support today than before; Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, autism spectrum or other variations of diagnoses have increased and also mental illness. Prof. Ann-Katrin further highlighted how Self-esteem/ self-confidence impacts mental illness. During her research; she discovered that students with reading and writing difficulties develop a number of other problems, such as low self-esteem self-confidence. Further; Prof. Ann-Katrin touched on Dyslexia, the theories of Dyslexia and how students with this specific special needs can receive support. Click HERE to download full Presentation.

Prof. Caroline Berggren gave a brief presentation on the University of Gothenburg and in particular the study opportunities for exchange students and lecturers.  Click  HERE to download the full presentation

The public Lecture was officially opened by Prof. Kyalo Dean School of Open and Distance Learning in Open, Distance and electronic Learning (ODeL) Campus and was moderated by Dr Ann Assey.

About the Linnaeus-Palme collaboration

Linnaeus-Palme Planning gives Swedish Higher Education Institutions and their partner from Developing Countries the opportunity to meet and agree on the details for a future exchange project within the Linnaeus-Palme programme.

 In this case, the programme is between the University of Gothenburg-Sweden and University of Nairobi (African Women Studies Centre and School of Open and Distance Learning, ODeL Campus).

What does the programme offer?

The programme Linnaeus-Palme shall contribute to long-term mutual cooperation between higher education institutions in Sweden and in developing countries. The programme provides the opportunity for funding of contact trips, as well as exchanges for teaching staff and students.

Linnaeus-Palme planning Project Team - University of Gothenburg-Sweden

  1. Prof. Caroline Berggren, University of Gothenburg Department of Education and Special Education
  2. Prof. Ann-Katrin Swärd, Special Education, University of Gothenburg, Sweden                                                                

 Linnaeus-Palme planning Project Team –University of Nairobi, Kenya

  1. Dr. Marygorety Akinyi-Africa Women Studies Institute, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Nairobi
  2. Dr Anne Aseey- School of Open and Distance Learning, ODeL Campus, University of Nairobi.