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5. The programme financed analysis reports about accessibility and the existing obstacles of higher education
institutions that gave basic information and knowledge about what needed to be done to make studying better
for students with special needs (accessible toilets, ramps, contrast markings, signs, lighting, etc.)
FACTS ON O UTCOME, IMPACT AND EFFECTIVENESS
1. For six years (2008-2014), the Primus Programme served as a sort of pilot programme to improve the quality of
tertiary education in Estonia. While it concerned all students, specific provisions targeted the inclusion of
students with special needs (mainly students with reduced mobility, deaf/hearing or visual impairment). The
scholarship provision for students with special needs was continued after the end of the programme under EU
funding; it is now funded by the Ministry of Education and Research, as of Act No. 178 of 2013.
2. In 2011, the Estonian Union for Persons with Mobility Impairment awarded the Primus Programme with their
annual award “Aasta tegu” for its achievements.
TRANSFERABILITY, SCALABILITY AND COST-EFFICIENCY
The Primus Programme is transferable to other countries wishing to improve the performance of higher education
institutions. The total budget of the programme for 2008−2014 was 14.6 million €, 95% of which came from the
European Social Fund. The most important expenses were teachers training (3.9 million) and stipends to students (1.9
million).
FUTURE DEVELOPMENT (WITH ADDITIONS FROM THE ZERO PROJECT TEAM)
Even though the Primus Programme has finished by 2014, certain elements will still continue to be implemented in
2015. the support for students with special needs and the special higher education scholarship. As well, certain
measures by universities await implementation: For instance, the Tallinn University of Technology has a student
dormitory development plan stating that instead of 10 accessible universally designed dormitory rooms there would be
100 in the future. Although the programme gave a valuable push to start finding solutions also for other kinds of special
needs (such as autism, dyslexia, etc.) and the scholarship also funds students with such types of disabilities, a number of
barriers still lie ahead since higher education institutions still have to tackle them. It is likely that new policies
developed for 2016-2021 will concentrate on these issues – in addition to life-long studying, working, also fostering
practical experiences, etc.
WEBSITE: (ADDITIONAL INFORMATION)
Overview of the 2008-2014.
2008-2014 (in Estonian)
age of the Primus Programme