Workshop Reflections: Advancing Digital Accessibility and Inclusive Practice

As part of ongoing work on digital accessibility and inclusive practice in higher education, a further workshop was delivered bringing together students, academic staff, professional services colleagues, and international partners. The session formed part of a wider British Council–supported collaboration focused on strengthening inclusive approaches across institutional contexts.

What stood out most from this workshop was the quality of the conversation.

Students shared perspectives on hidden disabilities and the everyday barriers they experience in learning environments. Staff reflected on the range of support tools already available, while recognising that awareness and confidence in using these tools remain ongoing challenges.

The discussion moved from a focus on what support services provide to a more practice-oriented perspective centred on what can be changed within teaching and learning. This shift was reflected in participants’ engagement with practical approaches, including the use of AI as a form of learning support, prioritising clarity and readability in materials, introducing flexibility into assessment design, and recognising that staff may also experience hidden challenges.

Participant feedback indicated a strong intention to apply these ideas in practice, both within individual teaching contexts and across partner institutions. One colleague reflected that “It really opened my eyes to the student perspective and made me think. I learned a lot.”

The session also highlighted the importance of sharing inclusive practices more widely, ensuring that effective approaches can reach and support a broader range of students.

The workshop benefited from contributions across the partnership, including colleagues from NUST Business School, Dr Asfia Obaid, Dr Lubaba Sadaf, and Dr Fatima Qaisar, whose perspectives enriched the discussion.

The delivery and discussion were coordinated and facilitated by Dr Ying Wu, and supported by a wider group of collaborators, including Dr Seemab Farooqi as Principal Investigator, Tánaiste Custance as President of DUSA, Liam Brown, and Rhona Payne, alongside contributions from students, academics, professional services colleagues, and international partners.

This workshop forms part of a broader series of activities within the project, each contributing to the development of inclusive and accessible approaches in higher education.