FPP overview

About the Faculty Partnrship Programme:

The University for All Faculty Partnership Programme is a collaboration between UCD Access & Lifelong Learning, UCD Teaching & Learning and UCD Equality, Diversity & Inclusion. It is a strategic project funded by the Higher Education Authority. The Programme is designed to support and accelerate the implementation of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) throughout the University. It is a structured opportunity for Faculty to undertake the Digital Badge for Universal Design in Teaching & Learning, to qualify as a UDL Facilitator, and become a role model who persuades and influences others as to the merits of inclusion for all students. Participation enables faculty to become recognised leaders in the field of access and inclusion and the implementation of Universal Design.

The Programme develops the confidence and skills of participants in order to support colleagues with the implementation of UDL and the creation of an inclusive educational environment for our diverse cohort of students. Participants share learning and experience from individual and programmatic perspectives and contribute to the further development of an inclusive university. Faculty Partners facilitate rollouts of the (opens in a new window)Digital Badge for Universal Design in Teaching & Learning.

17 Faculty Partners from across the University were appointed in June 2021 with a further 9 being appointed between November 2021 and January 2022.  A collection of case studies was launched in February 2023; Learning from UDL Leaders: UCD University for All Faculty Partner Case Studies. This collection features case studies from each of the 26 University for All Faculty Partners from all six UCD Colleges. It represents a rich body of knowledge, learning and advice on embedding Universal Design across a wide variety of disciplines and contexts. It serves as an excellent practical guide for those seeking to develop Universal Design capacity both within UCD and the wider tertiary sector.

Five new Faculty Partners were appointed in April 2023:

• Dr Andrew Hines, School of Computer Science
• Professor Graeme Warren, School of Archaeology
• Dr Leila Negahdar, School of Chemistry
• Dr Sharon O'Rourke, School of Biosystems and Food Engineering 
• Dr Tom McCormack, School of Physics

This extension of the Programme has been funded by the HEA’s PATH 4 Universal Design Fund. It seeks to embed Universal Design further by supporting Faculty to develop and implement projects that will audit UD and inclusive practices and measure their impact on students.