Page 26 - RUICHSS 2023 Proceeding

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

participation in higher education would not be feasible without additional financial

or other support. It is essential to use inclusive language, acknowledging and
systematically listing both genders to ensure representation and fairness.

After listing exclusion factors, an ellipsis is always added to the end of each list to

ensure that this definition of who we want to include never excludes young people
who could genuinely benefit from our inclusion support. Additionally, new

exclusionary factors might emerge over time, such as mental health challenges (as
observed during the COVID-19 pandemic), digital addiction, and others. It is
essential to remain flexible in our approach to inclusion and adapt as circumstances

evolve.

Moreover, the relevance of exclusion factors may vary in different countries. In
some countries, inclusion efforts may encompass members with migrant

backgrounds, individuals with diverse skin colours, religions, or nationalities,
HIV-positive students, and others. On the other hand, in countries with stringent

accessibility policies, students with disabilities might have relatively independent
access to higher education. Similarly, if there are generous national scholarships
available, there may be less need to consider economic disadvantage as a

significant exclusion factor. However, in countries where certain minorities or
categories are underrepresented or face discrimination, there is a compelling need
for additional support and efforts to ensure their participation (Guedens, 2021).

Therefore, individuals with fewer opportunities encounter one or more barriers that
put them at a disadvantage compared to their peers. As previously mentioned, this

unfavourable living environment often hinders their access to employment,
participation in formal and informal education, transnational mobility, engagement
in democratic processes, and full participation in society. They often face limited

access to essential resources, such as adequate housing, employment opportunities,

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