Sustainable inclusion in higher education: social innovation to support people with disabilities

Abstract

The perception of social innovation and its place in higher edu­cation is increasingly central to the curricula and programmes of higher education institutions. The aim of this paper is to present some innovative approaches that promote social responsibility Educational methods can pro­vide opportunities that allow students to engage in solving social problems while acquiring key competences such as problem solving, interdisciplinar­ity, and community partnership building.

Creating an inclusive university environment means not only infrastructure and technological improvements, but also comprehensive advisory and men­toring services for higher education institutions. Developments that focus on sustainability and social innovation have a significant impact on the inclu­sion of students with disabilities studying in institutions. These systems not only provide academic support, but also offer opportunities to facilitate the social inclusion of students and promote their psychosocial development. Guidance systems play a central role in ensuring sustainable inclusion, help­ing students with disabilities to adapt to the higher education environment and overcome various barriers.

In the needs assessment process, counselling plays a key role in creating an inclusive environment, with a focus on fostering a sense of community and addressing barriers. Higher education institutions should also implement pedagogical and counselling improvements to ensure that students with dis­abilities have equal opportunities to participate in university life. The devel­opment of various university guidance systems can be operated as a complex system, creating long-term economic and social value in addition to the suc­cessful integration of students with disabilities, and promoting the employ­ability and autonomy of people with disabilities in the labour market .