Overview
Looking to increase your understanding and develop your skills in Universal Design? The Digital Badge in Universal Design provides colleagues with a framework for embedding inclusion into their work, learning from their peers, and redesigning their practice.
This free introductory course is designed for people working in Higher Education and Further Education and Training in the Republic of Ireland. It is a nationally recognised micro-credential focused on applying Universal Design beyond the classroom.
The next national rollout will take place from 5 October to 14 December 2026.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Explain the current context of Universal Design in tertiary education, reflecting on the diversity of your own student and learner populations;
- Explain and demonstrate an understanding of key accessibility legislation that must be followed in an educational setting;
- Evaluate the diverse needs of learners, identifying how learners’ circumstances can affect their educational experiences;
- Reflect on how barriers to access can be removed through the Universal Design of student and learner supports and services;
- Apply the principles of Universal Design to your own professional practice.
Course Structure
The Digital Badge consists of:
- A 10-week programme requiring approximately 2.5 hours of work per week;
- Five self-directed online modules and three recorded webinars;
- Four online peer-group meetings;
- A redesign activity that is submitted and reviewed before the digital badge is awarded;
- An optional five-hour facilitator activity for participants who wish to support future rollouts of the badge.
The programme is work-based, practical, and flexible. Participants meet colleagues from across the sector, learn about different contexts and disciplines, and share ideas and resources.
Case studies from around the country provide innovative and creative examples of how to enhance services and supports, communications and interactions, and organisational systems and processes for all users.
Who Is This Course For?
The Digital Badge in Universal Design Beyond the Classroom is designed for:
- Colleagues working in student support and engagement;
- People who support or engage with staff and colleagues, either directly or indirectly;
- Professionals working in careers support, communications and marketing, IT services, libraries, programme administration, staff training, finance, estates and facilities, or quality assurance;
- Anyone who interacts directly or indirectly with students beyond the classroom and wants to use Universal Design to provide a more inclusive educational experience.
Professional Development Recognition
On earning the open badge for this course, you will have achieved further recognition in the following domain of the National Professional Development Framework for Staff Who Teach:
- Domain 3: Professional Communication and Dialogue — emphasises the importance of clear and coherent communication skills within changing learning environments.
Course Developers
This open course was developed by the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education in partnership with:
Dara Ryder
AHEAD: Association for Higher Education Access & Disability
Danielle O’Rourke
AHEAD: Association for Higher Education Access & Disability
Erica Meslin
AHEAD: Association for Higher Education Access & Disability
Daniel Elliot
University College Dublin
Dr Bairbre Fleming
University College Dublin
Dr Lisa Padden
University College Dublin
Kathie Orr
University College Dublin
Contributing Organisations
The development framework involved extensive consultation and support from the Further Education and Training and Higher Education sectors.
- Atlantic Technological University
- Cavan and Monaghan Education and Training Board
- City of Dublin Education and Training Board
- Cork Education and Training Board
- Dundalk Institute of Technology
- Education and Training Boards Ireland
- Higher Education Colleges Association
- Irish Universities Association
- Louth and Meath Education and Training Board
- Mary Immaculate College
- National Disability Authority
- National Student Engagement Programme
- SOLAS
- Technological Higher Education Association
- Technological University of the Shannon
- Union of Students in Ireland
- University College Cork
Resources for educators & course teams
This section is not for taking the course. Use the Register button to get started.
The course materials are available as Open Educational Resources under a CC BY-NC 4.0 licence. You may use, share, adapt, and remix the materials, subject to the licence terms.
Access Developer Materials
Questions about the course?
Email udbeyond@ahead.ie or universityforall@ucd.ie.
