Transforming higher education in Iceland: A case study of the gains and challenges of becoming inclusive

In this presentation, the authors explore the roles of higher education institutions andargue that inclusive practices that promote social justice should lie at the core of thehigher education agenda. The right to inclusive education at all levels is explicitlystated in Article 24 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.It maintains that educational institutions at all levels should contribute to ensuringinclusive and equitable quality education and to promoting lifelong learningopportunities for all. The task of the School of Education at the University of Iceland(UI) is not only to provide these opportunities, but also to realise inclusive educationat the university level by offering an inclusive learning environment for all students.Since 2007, the School of Education has offered a vocational diploma program (VDP)in inclusive settings for students with intellectual disabilities. The authors discuss thegains and challenges in transforming higher education institutions to becomeinclusive. The authors conducted a pilot study, guided by the IPSE Curriculumframework, to shed light on inclusiveness within the School of Education.