Supporting accessibility, inclusion and non-discrimination in education

The three-part series Supporting accessibility, inclusion and non-discrimination in education focuses on the exploration and meaning of these phenomena and how to promote them in everyday life. The first part of the series has been produced as a video and the next two as podcasts.

The video is in Finnish and are subtitled in Finnish, Swedish and English. The podcasts are in Finnish and the alternative text in Finnish, Swedish and English can be found on the Aoe.f i.

Episode 1: What do accessibility, inclusion and equality mean for learners, teachers and higher education communities?

The first episode of the series focuses on the definition and meaning of accessibility, inclusion and equality. The video discusses what they mean from the perspectives of the teachers, the learners and the educational organisations, and in particular from the perspective of continuous learning. (Open episode 1 video, 13:10 min)

Reflect and describe

How could the staff at your own higher education institution receive support and guidance to promote accessibility, inclusion and equality?
How are diverse groups of learners and learner orientation taken into account?

Episode 2: Promoting accessibility, inclusion and non-discrimination in higher education institutions

In the second episode of the series, persons responsible for accessibility at higher education institutions consider why it is important to take accessibility into account in the activities of the entire institution and how it can be promoted. In addition, a discussion will be held from the perspective of continuous learners. (Open episode 2 podcast, 14:23 min)

Reflect and describe

What kinds of shortcomings and experiences related to equality and discrimination have you noticed in your daily life and at your higher education institution?
How can accessibility and inclusion be promoted in your higher education institution?
Equality concerns everyone. Who should the educational organisation collaborate with in new ways to prevent problems such as discrimination?
How to take into account diverse learners that come from different backgrounds (such as different linguistic and cultural backgrounds, ethnic minority groups, learning difficulties, neurodiversity, physical and sensory limitations)?

Episode 3: Promoting accessibility on course platforms

The third episode of the series focuses on accessibility and equity of course platforms and content. In this podcast discusses what an accessible and equitable course platform is and what should be considered from the perspective of continuous and flexible learning. (Open episode 3 podcast, 17:17 min)

Reflect and describe

How the teaching staff of your higher education institution could be supported and guided in the planning and building of a digitally accessible and equal course platform?
How are diverse groups of learners and learner orientation taken into account?
Are there sectoral, learning outcome-related or other perspectives that need to be taken into account in the promotion of accessibility?
Are there adequate support services and advice available?
What could be done at your own higher education institution to promote the accessibility of digital learning?
Is there a need to update your own higher education institutions guidelines and instructions, and in which areas?
Are the instructions easy to find, accessible and useful?
How the realisation of the accessibility of teaching is evaluated in your higher education institution?
How could the accessibility and quality of study units and learning materials be evaluated or tested?

More information on training

This training is part of the Digivisio 2030 programme’s e-learning training, which aims to develop the competence of the teaching and support staff of higher education institutions in order to promote the high-quality content of the opin.fi service. The training has been implemented following the principle of micro-learning. In other words, it consists of one or more episodes with one or more assignments. The videos and podcasts of the training package can be viewed on the Digivisio 2030 programme’s YouTube channel, and all materials related to the trainings can be found on Aoe.fi on the page of the training. The reflection exercises have made use of the original training material.

These trainings are licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This training has been provided by:

Järvinen, Riikka (XAMK South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences)
Wallin, Outi (Tampere University of Applied Sciences)