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Ashoka University concluded its second edition of ‘Building Foundations for Inclusive Higher Education’ Conclave at the India Habitat Center (IHC).
The event brought together experts from universities, institutes and NGOs from across the country to discuss how to create a more inclusive higher education system for students with disabilities.
A report titled ‘Access to Higher Education: An Unresolved Challenge for Students with Disabilities’ was released by Reena Gupta, Director of the Office of Learning Support (OLS) at Ashoka University and Neha Trivedi, Founder of Spandan. The report examines the barriers faced by students with disabilities and offers recommendations to higher education institutions (HEIs) on how to address these issues.
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The event was attended by over 100 key stakeholders from government, academia and industry, including Reena Sonowal Kauli, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Higher Education, Dr. Pankaj Mittal, Secretary, Association of Indian Universities; Dr. Jagdish Arora, Advisor, National Board of Accreditation; Dr. RK Chadha, former Additional Secretary to the Parliament of India, Lok Sabha; Ipsita Mitra, Deputy Secretary, Policy, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities and Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Neha Trivedi, Founder of Spandan: Inclusion and Accessibility Consultancy Services; Dr. Homiyar Mobedji, Disability Expert, Program Management – Asia & Africa, Benetech and Dr. Piyush Chanana, Head, National Center for Assistive Health Technology (NCAHT), IIT Delhi, among others.
“At Ashoka University, we believe that true excellence in education can be achieved only when it is accessible to all. This initiative reflects our dedication to fostering an inclusive environment where students with disabilities can thrive. Professor Somak Roychowdhury, Vice-Chancellor, Ashoka University, said today’s discussion is another step towards creating a truly democratic higher education system, which will play a vital role in the overall success of India.
The conclave included four dedicated Idea Labs that explored key topics, including building support structures and appropriate accommodation frameworks in HEIs, strengthening accessible library systems and access to educational materials, access to assistive technology for students in higher education, Facilitating and empowering faculty as agents of inclusion. Teaching, the press release noted.
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