A Global Perspective on InclusionA study excursion with Prof. Dr. Sven Degenhardt funded by ILLF—the Innovative Teaching and Learning Formats program

30 October 2024

Destination cooperation project: A study excursion at the junction of accessibility and visualization. Teaching STEM to students in Taiwan and Germany who are blind or have visual impairments.

Inclusion is one of the most discussed challenges in education and it is implemented with varying speed around the globe. In Germany, this process is stagnating and seemingly marked by regress in some places. An international perspective is key to the progressive realization of inclusive classroom structures and environments. Four students from the Faculty of Education gained first-hand experience during a 12-day study excursion to Taipei in Taiwan with Prof. Dr. Sven Degenhardt and research associate Christoph Henriksen from the Special Needs research group.

The trip was financed through the innovative teaching and learning formats (ILLF) program of the University of Hamburg in cooperation with the Department of Special Education at the National Taiwan Normal University. Prof. Chien-Huey ‘Sophie’ Chang, her team and her students welcomed the visitors with outstanding hospitality and a great program.

Photo: Group picture in front of the Confucius statue on Campus II of the National Taiwan Normal University (Copyright: Degenhardt)

The excursion was shaped by academic debates focusing on Universal Designs for Learning (UDL) and designing accessible teaching and learning materials, in particular, textbooks, board and educational games, and building design. The online seminars “Born Accessible (Textbook-) Publishing” and “Game and Gamification”—jointly conducted by NTNU and the University of Hamburg within the ILLF initiative—were continued at NTNU. The primary focus was on exchange and developing solutions which identify and overcome barriers in school life. All participants agreed that an overhaul of teaching materials in line with the Universal Design for Learning concept is essential to building a culture of progressive inclusion.

Photo: Group picture with students and colleagues from NTNU and the University of Hamburg after the lecture on the SuHB research project (Copyright: Degenhardt)

The seminars were accompanied by various lectures at NTNU and the neighboring National Taipei University of Education that dealt with the development of inclusive schools, current research projects (SuHB), and the training of specialists for the education and rehabilitation of people with visual impairments or blind people, among other things.

The participants also had the chance to visit 2 local schools for the blind and the Wu-Chang elementary school, a resource school in Taipei. A visit to the Museum of Fine Art in Taizhong, featuring the impressive exhibition “Inclusion in Taiwan” with a focus on making contemporary Taiwanese art accessible for people with visual impairments and blind people, concluded the comprehensive professional program.

Photo: “Inclusion in Taiwan” exhibition at the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts (NTMoFA) in Taizhong. (Copyright: Degenhardt)

Overall, the breadth of insights gained and the intensive professional and personal exchange hold the promise of valuable future projects and activities. All parties are eager to stay connected and to continue their collaboration aimed at improving accessibility and inclusion not only in schools but also in culture and society as a whole.