Page 371 - RUICHSS 2023 Proceeding

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

education institutions hold a greater obligation to promote social inclusion and

address these barriers to ensure that all students, including those with
disabilities, have equal opportunities for success and full participation.

To address this complexity and void, this paper examines the obstacles to
inclusive environments in higher education settings and the mechanisms for

social inclusion, using the University of Peradeniya as a case study. Hence,
this study aims to identify barriers and explore existing mechanisms adopted

by the University. By understanding these mechanisms, this study aims to
provide insights into how institutions of higher education can promote social

inclusion and address barriers to inclusion more broadly, particularly in

similar settings where the need for social inclusion is particularly acute.
2. Research Methodology

This study employed a qualitative research design to gain an in-depth

understanding of the barriers to social inclusion within the University of

Peradeniya and explore the existing mechanisms to address barriers and create
effective strategies for promoting social inclusion. The University of

Peradeniya, the largest and oldest university in Sri Lanka, was selected as a
case study due to its efforts to accommodate the highest number of SWDs and

create an inclusive academic environment.

To identify stakeholders for the semi-structured interviews, the purposive

sampling technique was employed, and five stakeholders who were familiar
with the University's efforts to promote social inclusion were invited to

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