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The Rector of the University of Valencia, Esteban Morcillo; the Chairman of Adecco Foundation, Emilio Zurutuza; and Indra's Directors of Innovation and Relations with University, Jose Luis Angoso and Carlos Fernandez respectively, have signed today at the rectorate the collaboration agreement for the creation of the Indra and Adecco Foundation Chair of the University of Valencia.

This is the fifth Accessible Technologies Chair created by Indra-in line with its Corporate Responsibility policy-and Adecco Foundation in different Spanish universities in order to develop cutting-edge solutions and services to facilitate access to technologies, social and labour integration for people with disabilities.

The purpose of the Chair of the University of Valencia is to implement research, development and training activities as well as create awareness of how new technologies can help people with disabilities enter the labour market. The first project to be carried out by the Chair is called “ Redes sociales de apoyo al profesional con discapacidad” (Social networks to assist professionals with disabilities) which seeks to facilitate labour integration for this sector.

The Chair of the University of Valencia is a step forward in the relations Indra maintains with the entity since 2006 when both engaged in several investigation projects. Among them, we can mention Tratamiento 2.0, a generic technological platform integrating applications for the smart management of medical treatments thus sparing patients visits to the health centre. Indra also collaborated with the University of Valencia in the Hesperia project for the development of cutting edge technology regarding security, video surveillance and control of key infrastructures and public spaces; and in the Oasis project, which focuses on technologies for the smart management of motorways.

Social networks to assist professionals with disabilities

The first project to be undertaken by the Chair aims to develop new technologies to create social networks to assist professionals with cognitive impairments in their labour environment. For this reason a portal will be created where a Person-centered planning methology will be applied for professional development. The objective is to apply the experience gained through www.miradas.org to the labour environment. This portal was developed by the University of Valencia and applies the same methodology.

Through the portal, each person with cognitive disabilities will have a support team which will assist him/her in the labour environment, that is, a social network consisting of relatives, closest companions, an employment coach, business person and colleagues.

Different technological tools will provide career advice with general and visual descriptions of of the most habitual posts. They will also facilitate the preparation of a curriculum vitae and interviews with the aid of the team. People with cognitive disabilities will receive career counselling and support to make their professional dreams come true. The solution also provides assistance for mentoring throughout the career of the worker and facilitates coordination between the employment coach  and the employee, thus allowing to solve problems in real time.

The University of Valencia

The University of Valencia was founded in 1499 and in the beginning it offered teaching in medicine; humanities; theology and legal sciences. Nowadays, the institute seeks prestige by working on the quality of teaching extensively. The institution consists of 18 centres and 19 investigation centres offering 67 university degrees and 61 master degrees. The Burjassot-Paterna campus is dedicated to technical, basic sciences and engineering studies. Besides this, the University of valencia holds the sixth position in the Spanish research centre ranking and the 266th  worldwide, according to Scimago 2010.

The UV and the Universidad Politecnica de Valencia (UPV) have received the distinction of International Campus of Excellence at the 2010 call with the project “VLC/ Campus -Valencia, Campus de Excelencia Internacional”.

Indra

Indra is the premier Information Technology company in Spain and a leading IT multinational in Europe and Latin America. It is ranked as the second European company in its sector according to investment in R&D with nearly € 500 M during the last three years. In 2010 revenues reached € 2,557 M of which a 40% came from the international market. The company employs more than 31,000 professionals and has clients in more than 110 countries.

Adecco Foundation

Formed in July of 1999, the Fundación Adecco is the product of the social responsibility commitment assumed by the firm as the world leader in human resource
management. Its main objective is the integration in the employment market of people who, as a result of their personal characteristics, find it more difficult to find a job.
 
The Fundación Adecco pursues occupational integration programmes for:  

• Men and women over 45
• Persons with disabilities
• Women who are heads of households and/or victims of gender violence
• Current and former high-level competitive athletes