The Department of Research and Universities has resolved the UNIDISCAT grant call, aimed at ensuring equal opportunities for students with disabilities. The final investment amounts to €249,971.62, representing 70% of the total cost of accessibility projects to be carried out by the university institutions, which will cover the remaining 30%.
These grants will benefit a total of 11 universities within the Catalan university system. The institutions receiving funding are the Rovira i Virgili University (URV), Ramon Llull University (URL), Pompeu Fabra University (UPF), Open University of Catalonia (UOC), International University of Catalonia (UIC), University of Girona (UdG), University of Barcelona (UB), Vic University-Central University of Catalonia (UVic-UCC), Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), University of Lleida (UdL), and the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC).
The initiative aims to finance material resources, technical, and personal support to foster the full participation of students with disabilities in university life. The call, coordinated by the Directorate General for Technological Innovation and Scientific Internationalization (DGITIC) and managed by the Agency for the Management of University and Research Grants (AGAUR), outlines various uses for the funds.
Grants can be allocated to improvements in accessibility (lighting, signage, handrails, furniture adaptation, removal of communication barriers and electronic information access), the acquisition of technical support (adapted software, special keyboards, recording and listening equipment), and personalized support such as sign language interpreters or assistants for teaching and research activities.
Since its inception in 2007, UNIDISCAT grants have become consolidated, increasing their initial allocation from €100,000 to the current €400,000. The 2024 call removed the funding cap per university, allowing for better adaptation to each institution's needs. These policies address the growing diversity and specific support requirements of students, reinforcing inclusion and accessibility policies within the Catalan university system.
