Overview
Looking to increase your understanding and upskill in Universal Design? The Digital Badge in Universal Design provides colleagues with a framework to embed inclusion into their work, to learn from their peers and to redesign their practice. The Badge is a free introductory course on Universal Design for Learning for all those working in Higher and Further Education in the Republic of Ireland and a nationally recognised micro-credential.
Sign up for the national rollout starting 6 October.
You’ll Learn to
The Digital Badge consists of:
- a 10-week programme; roughly 2.5 hrs of work per week
- 5 self-directed online modules and 3 recorded webinars
- 4 peer group meetings online
- a Redesign Activity which is submitted and reviewed before the Digital Badge is awarded
- an optional 5 hour additional Facilitator activity for those who wish to support future rollouts of the Badge.
The programme and content is work based, very practical and flexible. Participants will meet other 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 ways to enhance services & supports, communications & interactions, and systems & processes for all users.
This Digital Badge for Universal Design Beyond the Classroom:
- Is for those colleagues who work in student support and engagement or support or engage with staff and colleagues – this can be directly or indirectly.
- For example: careers support, communications and marketing, IT services, libraries, programme administration, staff training, finance, estates & facilities services, and quality assurance.
- Is for professionals who interact either directly or indirectly with students beyond the reaches of the classroom setting who wish to utilise the Universal Design framework to provide an inclusive educational experience for all.
On earning your open badge award for this course, you will have achieved further recognition in the following domains of the National Professional Development Framework for Staff who Teach:
- Domain 3 Professional Communication and Dialogue emphasises the importance of excellent, clear and coherent communication skills within the changing learning environment.
Course Developers
This open course has been 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
The development framework involved wide consultation and support from the further education and training and high education sector. The following organisations were heavily involved in this framework:
- 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 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 Ireland
- University College Cork
Enroll in this Course
Learn as part of a group in an upcoming facilitator led programme
Enrollment
You can signup for the National Rollout at: National Rollout of the Digital Badges in Universal Design 2025
If you have any questions, please email udlbadge@ahead.ie or universityforall@ucd.ie.
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Developer Materials (OER)
All materials generated during the development of this open course have been created (or adapted, subject to licence permissions) for use under a CC BY-NC 4.0 licence as open education resources (OER).
Individuals are free to use, share, repurpose, and remix this material. Materials may include face-to-face workshop materials and eLearning materials.
Important: Individuals are required to hold an open course facilitator badge to be eligible to issue open course badges. Learn more



