On March 6, 2025, the Competence Center for Inclusive Education Saxony-Anhalt (KIB) was honored with the Zero Project Award. The award ceremony took place as part of the Zero Project Conference 2025 at the UNO City in Vienna. Initiated by the Essl Foundation, the conference promotes the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD).
"The Zero Project Conference raises awareness that accessibility concerns us all. It brings people from all over the world together, facilitates exchange, and showcases practical solutions for an inclusive society," emphasizes Wiebke Göbel, KIB’s educational director.
The conference focused on inclusive employment and accessible information and communication technology (ICT). From March 5 to 7, more than 1,000 guests from 70 countries exchanged ideas about innovative solutions. In addition to lectures and panel discussions, sessions featuring sign language interpreters and live subtitles were partially broadcast live on YouTube.
A highlight of the event was the award ceremony on March 6, where 77 initiatives from 45 countries were recognized, including KIB.
KIB Contributes with Two Presentations
KIB actively participated in the conference with two contributions:
- Prof. Dr. Matthias Morfeld presented on the state of inclusion in the workplace in Germany and introduced the educational specialist model.
- Fiene Herkula and Sven Gräbner, educational specialists at KIB, provided insights into their work as inclusion education professionals.
Magdeburg-Stendal University as a Pioneer in Inclusion
With KIB, Magdeburg-Stendal University has established a significant unique feature in Saxony-Anhalt and plays a pioneering role in the inclusive labor market. It is the first university in the region to offer employment in the primary labor market to five individuals from workshops for people with disabilities, setting a strong example of lived inclusion.
Through KIB's international visibility, the university significantly contributes to a positive external perception and the promotion of inclusive educational structures.
Picture: Zero Project/Rupert Pessl