Facilitators for Inclusion: Keys to University Success
Keywords:
Inclusion, Higher education, Teacher, Facilitators, Academic success
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 Unported License.
Abstract
This article explores, from the faculty's point of view, the aids that can facilitate the participation and learning of all students to contribute to their permanence and success at university. For data collection, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 119 faculty members from 10 Spanish universities and from all subject areas. The data were analysed using an inductive system of categories and codes. Six facilitators emerged in this study: 1) the services and resources offered by the university (disability offices, administration or services staff and grants); 2) a professional and personal teaching staff profile characterised by their vocation and passion, sensitivity and empathy; 3) an informed and trained teaching staff; 4) a universal, accessible and flexible curriculum; 5) classmates as a fundamental support; and 6) external entities, such as associations or volunteers that contribute to inclusion. The supports described in this paper can be levers for transforming classrooms and universities. This study concludes that it is time to move from ideals and recommendations to action, transforming university policies, cultures, and practices to be inclusive.
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