The team formed by Dr. Mar Gutiérrez-Colón, professor in the Department of English and German Studies at the Rovira i Virgili University (URV), industrial doctoral student Jonathan Pidgeon-Hancock, and Yolanda Roure Berbel, head of the Onada Foundation, have been awarded the second prize in the “ Impactful Research of the Year ” category of the Triple E Awards.
The Industrial Doctorates project, which is being developed in collaboration between the Onada Foundation and the Rovira i Virgili University, aims to create the first official English exam adapted for people with intellectual disabilities. The Onada Foundation is a non-profit organization based in Tarragona, dedicated to improving the quality of life and employment of people with intellectual disabilities or mental illness. Founded in 1988, Onada has established itself as a benchmark in the Tarragonès region, providing training, employment and personalized care services to promote autonomy and full social integration. With a clear mission to promote the inclusion of vulnerable groups, the foundation collaborates in innovative projects, such as the Industrial Doctorate, to facilitate opportunities for educational and employment inclusion.
This innovative project aims to address the lack of language assessment tools adapted to people with special educational needs. The research includes the implementation of a personalized teaching methodology adapted to the capabilities of this group , with the ultimate goal of creating an English test that meets the standards of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
The award recognizes the contribution of this project to promoting social and labor inclusion , providing people with intellectual disabilities with tools to improve their training and professional opportunities. Thanks to the support of the Industrial Doctorates Plan, this initiative not only seeks to innovate in the educational field, but also to reduce the employment gap , as highlighted in the European Commission's strategy for the rights of people with disabilities (2021-2030).
The Triple E Awards are a global recognition of entrepreneurship and engagement in higher education, highlighting the impact of universities on their communities and ecosystems. They are the first awards focused on the social mission of academic institutions, rewarding projects that promote change in areas such as innovation, entrepreneurship, and engagement with society. Organized by region (Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia-Pacific), the Triple E Awards select finalists through a rigorous evaluation process, with ceremonies held in cities such as São Paulo, Lisbon, and Kuala Lumpur.
This international award highlights the commitment of Industrial Doctorates to high social impact projects and the collaboration of the Onada Foundation to improve the quality of life of people with intellectual disabilities.
