The ESARQ School of Architecture at the UIC (ESARQ-UIC) is once again offering the Accessibility course with support from the Adecco Foundation and Caixa d’Enginyers savings bank.

This pioneering initiative is the first of its kind in Spain and is run by renowned architect Enrique Rovira-Beleta, the course professor and an accessibility specialist. The aim is to raise the awareness of future architects about the barriers that hinder the progress of people with reduced mobility. With this knowledge, architects can include accessibility criteria right from the very beginning when planning buildings. Rovira-Beleta's main philosophy is "to include accessibility criteria that do not reduce architectural quality, design or aesthetics, but are beneficial both to people with disabilities and people without”.

The agreement was signed by UIC Rector Dr. Pere Alavedra Ribot; Isabel Sánchez Soria, the Director of Personnel Management and Development at Caixa d’Enginyers savings bank; and Francisco Javier Pérez, the Coordinator of the Adecco Foundation in Catalonia. Also present were Javier Amate, the Director of Institutional Banking at Caixa d’Enginyers savings bank, and course professor Enrique Rovira-Beleta.

Accessibility: The Key to Integration

The Adecco Foundation and Caixa d’Enginyers savings bank have lent their support to this project as part of their commitment to integrate disabled people in the workplace.

For Francisco Javier Pérez, the coordinator of the Adecco Foundation in Catalonia, “The availability of accessible spaces is key in the process of helping disabled people join the workforce. That's why we believe this course should continue, because we're aware that we're working for a better future for people with reduced mobility".

Isabel Sánchez Soria, the Director of Personnel Management and Development at Caixa d’Enginyers savings bank, said, “Although progress has been made in this area, there is still a lot of ground to cover, and the best way to achieve this is to include it in the education system. This collaboration fulfils our company’s determination to help achieve complete accessibility for everyone”.

ESARQ professor Enrique Rovira-Beleta said, “Through this course, we will ensure that students identify the capabilities of disabled people and that they understand that accessibility is not just about the needs of people with disabilities, but is beneficial to all citizens and can help improve the quality of architectural designs”.