Workshop on Developing Accessible and Inclusive Teaching

A workshop titled “Developing Accessible and Inclusive Teaching”, intended for the teaching staff of the University of Banja Luka, was held on Thursday, May 22, 2025, at the Faculty of Philosophy as part of the Equality, Inclusion and Diversity Week (May 16–23), which is implemented within the strategic activities of the ACROSS Alliance.

The workshop was led by Prof. Draženko Jorgić, PhD from the Faculty of Philosophy and Bojana Trbić, Head of the Center for Support to Students with Disabilities at the University of Banja Luka.

Through lectures and interactive discussion, participants had the opportunity to learn about contemporary pedagogical approaches that contribute to more accessible teaching and enable the equal participation of all students in the educational process. Special emphasis was placed on the obstacles faced by students with disabilities in higher education – from architectural barriers to inaccessible teaching materials and inflexible assessment formats.

“Inclusion is not an individual choice but a systemic obligation of the academic community. It is essential for teachers to start by asking themselves – what can I do to make my classes more accessible – rather than waiting for a student to point out their needs,” the lecturers emphasized.

Prof. Dr. Draženko Jorgić particularly highlighted the importance of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) as a model that encompasses various ways of presenting content, engaging students, and assessing knowledge, thus reducing learning barriers from the outset. On that occasion, specific examples of good practice and tools that can support the adaptation of the teaching process were also presented.

Workshops like this represent an important step toward building an academic culture that recognizes diversity and creates equal opportunities for all students through a proactive approach.

(FF/UNIBL)