Page 17 - RUICHSS 2023 Proceeding

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

education (Romstein & Sekulić-Majurec, 2015). Equity, on the other hand, denotes

an attitude where the education of all learners is regarded as equally important.

The goal of inclusion is to secure equal opportunity, granting everyone equal
access to goods, services, resources, and full participation in society, including

education. This goal can be realised when EVERYONE actively engages,
contributes, and enjoys the benefits. In the context of higher education, this means

enabling students to pursue their professional interests and acquire the learning
outcomes of their chosen study programme in line with their abilities.

Equal opportunities imply achieving a state of equality, embracing the same value

system, attaining equivalent outcomes, and being treated the same (Croatian
Language Portal, 2023). The realisation of equal opportunities involves selecting
methods that best suit each individual, considering their unique abilities and needs.

Equality of opportunity is not synonymous with uniform conditions; rather, it
necessitates adapting and adjusting the environment, requirements, forms of

communication, teaching techniques, methods, and more, to cater to everyone
through an individualised approach.

There is a distinction between integration and inclusion. Integration (Croatian

Language Portal, 2023) involves unification, fusion, connection, and adaptation to
a new environment. It includes assimilation, where individuals fit into the existing
environment, and adaptation, where behaviour is reshaped and changed.

Integration typically involves a one-way change for individuals or groups.
Therefore, social integration merely encompasses the physical presence of

different people in society, with expectations for them to adapt and become as
similar as possible to the average, ordinary, or "normal."

On the other hand, inclusion involves the integration of people with fewer

opportunities (underrepresented, disadvantaged, and vulnerable groups) to ensure
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