Climbing the UDL Ladder: Building a Culture of Inclusion in Higher Education: “Overcoming Obstacles to Enhance and Sustain UDL Collaboration in Further and Higher Education”

This year Atlantic Technological University (ATU) and Munster Technological University (MTU) have united to deliver a national UDL conference. The conference not only explores a whole institute approach to UDL but draws on learning and reflection from the HEA Path 4 Phase 1 Project in which both universities partnered on a work package considering leadership approaches to supporting UD.  With increased evidence available on the effectiveness of UDL creating a more inclusive environment across classrooms in Further & Higher Education, this year we explore UDL from three key perspectives: Leaders, academics, and student services.

Conference Themes

I. UDL in Leadership: Opportunities and challenges in supporting sustainable inclusive learning in further and higher education. 

Presenters will guide conference participants through an examination of development processes (be it evidenced or aspirational) recognising the importance of supports for programme teams when designing programmes of study that considers the variability of the student body. By promoting the empowerment of staff and learners, educational leaders can build cohesive and resilient learning environments that support sustainable inclusion.

II. Furthering UDL in the classroom: An academic perspective on overcoming obstacles. 

Presentations will address alternative pathways to success which remove potential barriers making learning goals attainable. This discourse will consider a positive learning environment with flexibility built from the onset be it based in evidence or recommended, ensuring that flexibility, accessibility and learner voice and choice are built into all approaches to teaching and learning.

III. Empowering the inclusive student experience: Student Services approaches. 

Requested are presentations that showcase the promotion of removing barriers to education by student support services who are key players in this process. These presentations address a whole systems educational design as a driver in relation to student wellbeing. Innovative approaches to student support are most welcomed.

Conference Keynote Speaker – Dara Ryder 

Dara Ryder is Chief Executive Officer of AHEAD, having previously managed AHEAD’s digital presence and developed a suite of online CPD programmes relating to inclusive practice in his role as Digital Media and eLearning Manager there.

After graduating from Queens University in 2005, Dara joined Dun Laoghaire College of Further Education as a lecturer, where he became interested in inclusive education when working first-hand with students with disabilities in his classroom.  When the opportunity arose in 2008, he joined AHEAD where he has been working ever since on creating inclusive environments in education and employment for people with disabilities.

For further information and to register for the event please see eventbrite link below. Please note tickets are limited, so register now to secure your place.  We ask you to only register for tickets if you are certain that you will be attending in person.  We will also operate a waiting list for any tickets that become available closer to the event.