Page 132 - RUICHSS 2023 Proceeding

University of Ruhuna ISSN: 2706-0063
Matara, Sri Lanka

environment that ensures the provision of equal opportunities for all

learners. This paper aims to contribute to the ongoing discourse on inclusive
education and provide valuable insights for educators, policymakers, and

researchers supporting SWDs.

This paper also proposes a way forward by highlighting potential strategies
to address these challenges. These strategies include implementing inclusive

policies and guidelines, ensuring accessible infrastructure, providing
assistive technologies and support services, conducting disability awareness

and sensitivity training for faculty and students, establishing peer support

networks, and promoting financial assistance programmes for SWDs. The
paper also identifies the importance of a collaborative effort involving

higher education institutions, policymakers, and other stakeholders to create
an inclusive higher education environment.

2. Research Methodology

The study is based on the data collected in a baseline survey. Data were
collected from the sample using structured questionnaires. The sample of

this study included five groups of stakeholders from all four Sri Lankan
partner universities (University of Peradeniya, University of Ruhuna,

Eastern University and Sri Lanka Technological Campus (SLTC)) of the
1
IncEdu project. The five groups of stakeholders that were included are

1 IncEdu is an Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher education project on “Developing
Inclusive Education for Students with Disabilities in Sri Lankan Universities” funded by the
EU.
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