Erasmus University Rotterdam’s website has scored highly on points such as clarity, digital accessibility, user-friendliness, and accessible and findable information about studying with support needs. The quality mark is awarded by the Expertise Center for Inclusive Education.
During the festive closing of the Action Plan for Studying with a Disability on Thursday 11 December, Benjamin Bremer from the Expertise Center for Inclusive Education (ECIO) presented the certificate associated with the quality mark to Ellen van Schoten, Vice-President of the Executive Board of the Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR).
Ongoing attention
Ellen van Schoten emphasised the importance of accessibility and inclusion during the presentation: 'As a university, we want to be at the heart of society – engaged, open and accessible. This demands ongoing attention to students that experience barriers, both visible and invisible. Inclusion means that no one must fight for basic rights such as participation and visibility. Only then can we truly speak of an engaged university.'
Nearly one in five students requires additional support, for instance due to a chronic condition, autism, ADHD, or other special circumstances (De Staat van Inclusief Onderwijs 2024, p.9). It is particularly important for this group that information is accessible, understandable, and presented in a non-stigmatising manner.
Important support from students with disabilities
Students who have disabilities themselves know best what they need and where the university can improve. That is why they provided university staff tips on organising examinations, communication and, for instance, recording lectures.
This ensured that not only a sound policy was developed, but that it would also be effective in practice.
Action Plan for Studying with a Disability
The granting of the quality mark is partly due to the Action Plan for Studying with a Disability.
In 2019, the Executive Board has signed the declaration of intent of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This was the starting point for making the university more accessible.
It was crucial that there would be a joint approach.
In 2022, an audit was conducted. It confirmed that there were isolated initiatives and that the structure and coherence could be improved. Later that year, the Action Plan was drawn up on this basis, as a solid foundation, carried by all layers of our organisation. In 2023, the Action Plan for Studying with a Disability was adopted by the Executive Board. From that moment on, project teams, students, ICT professionals, communication advisors, and policymakers worked closely together on this project.
Ellen van Schoten: 'What makes this plan special to me personally is the way it came about. It is not the work of a small group or an external party. No, this was done together – by faculties, services, coordinators, and above all: by the students themselves.'
The Action Plan for Studying with a Disability has now officially been completed, but that does not mean that we can sit back and relax. Ellen van Schoten: ‘Inclusion is not a project with an end date; it is something that continually demands our attention.’ During the gathering, it became clear that there are already many ideas to get started with.
Accessible design strengthens the study experience for everyone
This quality mark recognises EUR as a national university leader in inclusive and accessible information provision. The university shows how working structurally on inclusion, from method to language use, from design to communication, directly contributes to equal opportunities for all students. The EUR website scored highly on points such as clarity, digital accessibility, user-friendliness, and accessibility and findable information on studying with support needs.
Why this quality mark is important
Accessible provision of information is a crucial condition for study participation. All students must be able to find, understand, and use the required information.
The EUR website provides, among other things:
- a consistent and accessible structure;
- understandable language and neutral terminology in a short and concise structure;
- excellent digital accessibility;
- content that meets diverse learning and information needs.
Inspiration for other institutions
By being awarded this quality mark, the EUR demonstrates what is possible when an educational institution takes an integrated approach to accessibility: not as a final project, but as an ongoing process. In doing so, the university sets an inspiring example for other institutions that want to work towards providing accessible, findable and understandable information.
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