On Friday, 31.01.2025, a new series of students, the second series consisting of groups III and IV, graduated from the postgraduate program of continuing education, qualification in the fields of Educational Sciences and Psychology. "Applied Behavioral Analysis. Intervention in Autism Spectrum Disorders".
The postgraduate program, coordinated by Lect. Univ. Dr. Loredana Al Ghazi from the Department of Educational Sciences, UVT, established in 2019, is the result of a solid collaboration between the University Clinic for Psychopedagogical Therapy and Counseling (CUTCP) and DAAL Autism Project, benefiting from the expertise of national and international trainers.
The postgraduate program is a first in the Romanian academic landscape and responds to a real demand from the labor market, training and professional development of people who work with children with ASD.
In Romania, there is no statistic that accurately indicates the number of people with autism, the prevalence or incidence rate, but worldwide, it is estimated that one child in 68 is diagnosed with ASD. Employers, NGOs, parents and medical professionals report annually the acute lack of specialists in the field and the impossibility of providing therapeutic services to applicants placed on endless waiting lists. In the USA, Applied Behavioral Analysis is the scientifically validated intervention, with the most documented cases of recovered children. The implications for society, for the quality of life of people with ASD and their families and, last but not least, for the state budget are enormous, if children with ASD cannot benefit from the therapies so necessary in order to acquire personal autonomy.
It is the role of universities to provide specialized training for professionals who will work with people with ASD, in compliance with the quality standards established in the field by international specialized forums, and the West University of Timisoara is the first university in Romania to offer this type of training and continuous professional development program. The announcement of this intention was welcomed on social networks by over 1000 families and potential candidates interested in enrolling.
