ATU and MTU Host National Conference Promoting Inclusion in Higher Education

Atlantic Technological University (ATU) and Munster Technological University (MTU) partnered to organise the third annual Climbing the UDL Ladder Conference. The event took place on 1 June, at Hume Hall at ATU Sligo. The conference served as a platform to celebrate and promote Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in higher education, showcasing remarkable efforts being made locally, nationally, and worldwide to improve access and foster inclusion for all students.

ATU and MTU have emerged as national leaders in advocating for UDL and have made significant progress in recent years. With the participation of guest speakers from across the country and internationally, this year’s conference focused on three key themes: UDL in leadership, advancing UDL in the classroom, and empowering an inclusive student experience. The chosen themes underscored the critical importance of a comprehensive institutional approach to address accessibility and inclusion.

Dr Niamh Plunkett, Head of Teaching and Learning at ATU Sligo and ATU Lead for the Conference, emphasised the significance of a multifaceted perspective. She said: “Our focus this year was on overcoming obstacles to enhance and sustain UDL collaboration in tertiary education by embracing diverse viewpoints that are crucial to advancing UDL and creating inclusive learning environments for all.”

Dr Orla Flynn, ATU President recognised the significance of UDL and addressed this in her opening speech at the conference. She said: “I learned about how important it is for us as a senior leadership team to ensure we embed principles of UDL and targets for UDL in our strategic plan and in our compact aspirations.”

In addition to the three main themes, the conference placed special emphasis on the achievements of the PATH 4 Phase 1 Project, sponsored by the Higher Education Authority. This nationwide initiative aims to enhance inclusion and accessibility for all students through the implementation of UDL. ATU and MTU have taken the lead in numerous national projects and have demonstrated remarkable innovation and initiatives within their respective institutions.

Aileen Kennedy, Assistant Registrar and Head of Student Engagement and Teaching and Learning, and PATH 4 Universal Design Project Lead at MTU, highlighted the importance of collaborative events such as this conference. They facilitate national collaborative tertiary education discussions to create solidarity of voice to advance strategic policy and practice changes that provide equitable education experiences for all.

To find out more about the Climbing the UDL ladder conference, please click here.