AHEAD
Creating inclusive environments in education & employment for people with disabilities.

Free courses for Universal Design for Learning and Beyond the Classroom

Registration for the 2025 roll-out now closed

Want to build your understanding of Universal Design and make your work more inclusive? The Digital Badge in Universal Design is a free, nationally recognised introductory course for staff in Higher and Further Education in Ireland.

AHEAD, UCD Access and Lifelong Learning Centre, and the HEA's National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning have been awarding Digital Badges in Universal Design since 2019 with over 5,000 badges given!

Course Overview

The next national rollout runs from 6 October to 14 December and includes:

  • A 10-week programme, with approx. 2.5 hours of work per week
  • 5 self-paced online modules and 3 recorded webinars
  • 4 online peer group meetings
  • A Redesign Activity, submitted and reviewed for badge completion
  • An optional 5-hour Facilitator module, for those who want to support future badge deliveries

The course content is practical, work-based, and designed to help you embed inclusive practices in your day-to-day role. You'll connect with colleagues across disciplines and share ideas and resources in a supportive learning environment.

Since 2024/25, we have two versions of the UDL Badge:

Universal Design in Teaching and Learning

Implementation of universal design principles in Teaching & Learning promotes inclusivity and equity while also ‘future-proofing’ your teaching.

As our classrooms and lecture theatres become increasingly diverse, our practices must also adapt to reflect the changing landscape of higher education. Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is an educational framework based on research in the learning sciences, including cognitive neuroscience, which guides the development of flexible learning environments that can accommodate individual learning differences and cater for the wide range of diversity in our lecture rooms.

Learn more >>

Universal Design Beyond the Classroom

This course is for colleagues who interact either directly or indirectly with learners beyond the reaches of the classroom setting who wish to utilise the Universal Design for Learning framework to provide an inclusive educational experience. It will provide practical knowledge and tips to empower student support and engagement staff working beyond the classroom in further and higher education and training.

Learn more >>