UvH signs UN treaty statement of intent for more inclusive education
On International Day of Education on Jan. 24, the UvH Board of Governors signed the UN Convention's Declaration of Intent for more inclusive education. The Declaration of Intent contains a joint ambition, process agreements and goals for the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in higher education. Consider persons with physical support needs, mental support needs or, for example, circumstances that require study adjustments such as gender transition.
Joke van Saane, on behalf of the CvB: "At UvH there is an increasing focus on inclusive and accessible education. The declaration of intent fits well with the further implementation of the goals from the UvH Strategic Plan, the policy around student welfare and the goals around diversity and inclusion. By signing the letter of intent, we as the Executive Board want to send a clear signal: UvH considers inclusive education important."
UvH's Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) steering committee supports the declaration. Caroline Suransky, chair of the DEI steering committee, said, "This statement and the memorandum align well with the steering committee's goals of promoting the inclusiveness of education at UvH."
About the letter of intent
The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science is calling on universities, colleges and mbo institutions to sign the Declaration of Intent UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to work together to make education accessible to all. ECIO, the Expertise Center for Inclusive Education, advises and supports universities, colleges and mbo in making education more inclusive and was present at the signing. In her presentation, Elke van Doorn of ECIO emphasized the importance of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. She emphasized the relevance of proactive efforts to remove barriers, although there will always be students who need customized support.
Read more on the ECIO website (in Dutch):
Pictured:
Elke van Doorn (ECIO) and Joke van Saane (UVH) after signing the Letter of Intent.
The UvH Executive Board signed the UN Convention's Declaration of Intent for more inclusive education.