By Torben Haugaard Jensen, AAU Communication and Public Affairs. Photo: Lars Horn

Everyone should be able to attend university – regardless of whether they have a diagnosis or are in a wheelchair.

This is the background for a new collaboration between Aalborg University and the Bevica Foundation that will integrate Universal Design into the teaching at AAU.

Universal Design is about developing products and solutions that accommodate all people without taking special considerations into account – for example, an entrance to a house that is designed for both pedestrians and wheelchair users.

The project will equip selected members of the AAU teaching staff to support students across the university in developing solutions and products that create value for all people.

Specifically, during the three-year project period, the students will develop ideas for a study environment with space for people with physical, mental and social challenges, without special consideration being given to these people.

Mads Bang, Director of Innovation at AAU, is delighted with the opportunity to integrate Universal Design into teaching.

Universal Design is an important thing to teach our students who are on the threshold of developing future products and solutions. There are so many places where we can do things much better and be much more inclusive if we just think about it from the start. I am particularly pleased that this project also gives us the opportunity to influence some of our new entrepreneurs," says Mads Bang.

Must strengthen inclusion and accessibility

The project, which contributes to the UN's Sustainable Development Goal "Leave No One Behind" (LNOB), is part of the Bevica Foundation's strategy to promote research and education in Universal Design at Danish educational institutions.

It is about ensuring an equal and equitable society that does not exclude marginalized groups, says Marianne Kofoed, Director of the Bevica Foundation.

"Universal design is key to creating inclusive solutions that take into account the diversity of our society. By integrating Universal Design and the LNOB agenda as a basic premise in AAU's teaching, we ensure that the graduates of the future are equipped to create solutions that promote inclusion and accessibility for all members of society."

The Bevica Foundation's research network and experiences, including from a partnership with DTU, will ensure a solid knowledge base that AAU can continue working on.

An obligation for AAU

At Aalborg University, research on Universal Design is already being done, for example in the areas of architecture and construction.

This knowledge will now be used when students in the theme framework "The universally designed study environment" work on cases that can make urban spaces and buildings more accessible to everyone. This applies, for example, to the physical and digital study environment at AAU and Aalborg as university town.

The theme framework is relevant because Danish universities are getting more and more students with physical, mental and social challenges.

And the universities have an obligation to address this, says Marie Fallgaard Mortensen, Head of AAU Student Entrepreneurship.

"As an educational institution, we are obligated by the Leave No One Behind agenda to figure out how we accommodate different target groups now and in the future. The collaboration with the Bivica Foundation will strengthen students, teaching staff and AAU as a whole, because we will gain far more practice-based knowledge about how we can address these challenges in the years to come."

Translated by LeeAnn Iovanni, AAU Communication and Public Affairs.