The work carried out by the university on inclusive education for students with disabilities, titled "Peer - tutor", was recognized as one of the best innovative practices worldwide by representatives of the Zero Project during an event organized by ESSL foundation with the support of the United Nations. 

Zero Project is an initiative that focuses on the rights of people with disabilities worldwide; it is a platform where the most innovative and effective solutions to problems that people with disabilities face, are shared. This year the program was held in Februry in the city of Vienna, Austria.

 "Peer – tutor" is a project developed by the university's Inclusive Education Research Group (GIEI for its acronum in Sanish) and UNESCO chairs assistive technologies for inclusive education, which supports students with disabilities by using assistive technology, adapted teaching-learning methods and the support of peers.

"The solution is not that students come to obtain a service, we seek their integration and that they live university just like everyone else. The project has been going on for five years, it has been replicated and shared in other universities thanks to collaborative networks that support students with visual, hearing and motor impairments, autism spectrum disorders and intellectual disabilities",  said Miriam Gallegos, coordinator of the GIEI.

This recognition shows the work of the university and the challenges we want to overcome, said Jessica Rivadeneira, a student who is part of this innovative proposal. "As a future educator, I think that considering diversity in education is essential, because it is not only working for accessibility through technologies but providing pedagogical support, this is what we do at UPS."

Gallegos said that students with disabilities have a tutor according to their needs, the tutor can be a classmate or a student majoring in education. "They accompany the student during their university studies. María José Marino, a graduate, served as a tutor."I am pleased to know that the student who I tutored and supported is in seventh semester. We keep in touch because it's not just about helping them with their homework but thinking about their well-being, their needs", she said.

This project was selected among 75 innovative proposals in the field of Education by worldwide experts of the network and presented in Vienna by professors Miriam Gallegos, Miriam Gallego and student Jessica Rivadeneira, all members of the GIEI