This event follows the highly successful GW4 Universal Design for Learning Conference in September 2024. It offers an opportunity for educators from South-West universities to come together to discuss UDL progress, celebrating successes, identifying challenges, and pledging continuing commitment to teaching and supervision approaches that recognise and celebrate diversity.
Date: Thurs 30th April 2026
Time: 10am-1pm
Location: Online
This page is where you will find all the details for this event.
Opening remarks: (Prof Vrinda Nayak and Rachel Griffiths, University of Exeter)
Session 1: A University case study on inclusive programme design using the principles of UDL (Dr Ceri Morris, University of Cardiff)
Session 2: Designing for all: Using research findings to make University of Bristol assessment more inclusive (Research by Assoc. Prof Nicola Rooney, Dr Sally Dowling, Tirion Cobby, Dr Bogdan Florea, Assoc. Prof Christophe Fricker and Dr Craig Gunn, University of Bristol)
Break
Session 3: Inclusive Education Project @ Bath (Prof Momna Hejmadi, Abby Osborne and Dr Rob Eaton, University of Bath)
Session 4: 3 years on from ‘social stories for inclusion’: intervention or structural improvement? (Assoc. Prof Deborah Johnson and Assoc. Prof Caroline Keenan, University of Exeter)
Session 5: Plenary
Closing remarks
This one-day hybrid staff development conference aimed to support educators from universities in the South-West to improve their understanding of inclusive education and Universal Design for Learning (UDL). There will be keynote speakers on the importance of UDL, presentations and workshops led by the University of Bath, University of Bristol, Cardiff University, and University of Exeter, as well as a poster display on projects following the themes of the conference.
Below you will find all the resources created as part of the 2024 event, including event recordings, slides, posters and speaker details.
The keynote presentations by Prof Nicola Martin and Dr Heather Sears, as well as the presentations by University of Bristol, University of Bath, and University of Exeter were recorded. Please see the link below to view these recordings – the timings for each section is in the description of the video. CC and transcript available.
Please visit the Padlet link below which we ask you to add your thoughts/reflections/comments to throughout the conference. This resource will then be discussed during the presentation led by the University of Cardiff as a reflection exercise.
This conference was hosted by the University of Exeter on Thursday 12th September 2024 and organised by the following staff members from GW4 institutions:
Please see below details on the presenters:
Professor Momna Hejmadi, University of Bath
Professor Momna Hejmadi is currently the Associate Pro Vice Chancellor (Education), University of Bath. She reports to the Pro-VC (Education) on the strategic educational priorities, initiatives, regulations, quality assurance and pedagogy at the University. She chairs and is a member of several committees at Bath and nationally. She is a National Teaching Fellow (2015) and was Editor in Chief of Bioscience Horizons (OUP) from 2014 – 2020.
Professor Vrinda Nayak, University of Exeter
Prof Vrinda Nayak is an Associate Professor in Medical Education and the Associate Dean for Taught Students (Racial Equality and Inclusion) at the University of Exeter. She is part of the University`s Senior Education Leadership Team and supports the Success for All strand of the University’s Education Strategy which aims to widen participation, eliminate degree awarding gaps and support a diverse and inclusive learning environment. She launched the education initiative “Transformative Education Framework” to support embedding the principles of Inclusive Education, Racial and Social Justice and Sustainability in our education and student support activities. She obtained PFHEA in June 2024.
Rachel Griffiths, University of Exeter
Rachel Griffiths is a Senior Academic Developer at University of Exeter and leads the inclusive education project as part of the University’s Transformative Education strategy. A psychotherapeutic counsellor and former DSA-funded Specialist Mentor with specialisms in autism and mental health, she previously worked in one-to-one support roles with disabled students. She is also a doctoral researcher looking at creative methodologies and the stigma faced by neurodivergent learners at university.
She regularly lectures and delivers training for staff and students on a variety of topics, including embedding Universal Design for Learning principles in teaching practice, creating accessible resources, disability and mental health awareness training for the Law School’s Community Law Clinic, diversity in the workplace lectures for the University’s Business School, and workshops for student ambassadors on improving neurodiversity inclusion.
Dr Dave Gatrell, University of Bristol
Dr Dave Gatrell is a Lecturer in Academic Development at University of Bristol. He is involved in designing, implementing and evaluating the University’s curriculum enhancement initiatives, which include helping teachers and students engage with inclusive approaches to assessment. He regularly facilitates workshops on topics such as group work, making sense of feedback, and incorporating students’ use of AI in assessment.
His doctoral and postdoctoral research explores students’ experiences of video-based formative assessment tasks to develop communication skills. He is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Before returning to the UK in 2022, he worked in language teacher education, educational development and digital learning in the Czech Republic, Spain and Hong Kong.
Dr Ceri Morris, Cardiff University
Dr Ceri Morris is the Lead for the Cardiff University Fellowship Programme and the Inclusive Education project, and a SFHEA. Her research and teaching interests are post-compulsory education and education development, inclusive education, assessment and feedback and disability.
Previously she was a Rehabilitation Officer for Visually Impaired people, a Lecturer in Education and PGCE PCET in SOCSI in Cardiff University, and a Lecturer in Academic Development in Cardiff Met, where she led the Fellowship Programme, Inclusion and Personal Tutoring workstreams and the NTF and CATE schemes.
Dr Emma Jenks, University of Bristol
Dr Emma Jenks is a Lecturer in Psychology of Education at the University of Bristol. Her research and teaching are focused on the experiences of neurodivergent learners, with a specialism in autism, and inclusive higher education.
She is responsible for leading workshops for university staff in supporting autistic students. This training is built upon participatory research conducted by autistic students across multiple institutions.
Abby Osborne, University of Bath
Abby has a background in curriculum and assessment design, curriculum transformation and inclusive teaching and learning. She currently works at the Centre for Learning and Teaching at the University of Bath as their Assessment and Feedback Development Lead.
Abby also works as an Inclusive Education Consultant, working with schools and education providers internationally to provide impactful guidance, resources and workshops for busy teachers. She has extensive experience of supporting students who are neurodivergent and has recently published two books on facilitating inclusive practice and student wellbeing within the classroom.
Mike Clapp, University of Exeter
Mike Clapp is a Senior Learning Experience Designer at the University of Exeter and has collaborated with colleagues on the development of MSc Psychology Conversion (online), PGCert Psychedelics: Mind, Medicine, and Culture (Online) and MBA Master of Business Administration (Online). He has a student-centred approach to learning design and employs UDL principles when developing programmes.
He provides learning design advice and guidance to educators developing or enhancing modules, including delivering training sessions on a variety of topics, including embedding Universal Design for Learning principles in teaching practice alongside Rachel Griffiths.
Mike worked in secondary education for 15 years prior to working in HE, as a Teacher of Science, Head of Science and Head of Faculty (STEM). This included successfully developing strategies, resources and training to narrow progress and attainment gaps in disadvantaged groups of students.
He has a particular interest in making assessment better and has written articles including Blackboard Rubric Tool Part 1: An introduction to using rubrics. | Digital Learning Service in CATE (fetliu.net) and EduExe blog How we designed an authentic assessment for online learners in Educational Psychology.
Dr Nick Gill, University of Exeter
Nick Gill is a political geographer who researchers carceral systems, border control and forced migration. He has been involved with Universities of Sanctuary for a long time and sits on the national steering group of Universities of Sanctuary as well as the UK Higher Education Humanitarian Working Group. With colleagues Sin Yi Cheung, Lisa Lucas, Isabelle Schafer and Katharina Lenner, he recently been funded by GW4 to investigate the experiences of students affected by forced migration in Higher Education, leading to, among other things, the production of two leaflets on the subject, one for students and the other for staff. He is currently writing a book for McGill-Queens University Press, with Professor Jen Bagelman, provisionally entitled Universities After Refugees: Reckoning with Forced Migration in Higher Education.
Assessing Whether Regular In-Person Testing is Inclusive for Students with Disabilities – Anca Dobrescu & Jess Fielding (University of Bristol)
Breaking the Ice to Build Inclusion: Creating Inclusive Icebreakers – Learning Design Team (University of Exeter)
Designing Assessment Activities for All: Presenting the Perspectives of ‘Historically Excluded’ Students at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Law – Robynne Grant-Jepps (University of Bristol)
Embedding Inclusive Learning Design in a Fully Online Postgraduate Health Related Course – Dr Kerry Gilbert and Dr Amanda Wallace (University of Exeter)
Enriching Career Perspectives in Behavioural Science: A Case Study Approach – Janina Hoffmann, Joshua Tenn, Kai Wang, Neal Hinvest (University of Bath)
Inclusive Classrooms in Economics: Understanding Student Engagement using Mentimeter – Arpita Ghosh (University of Exeter)
Inclusive Module Participation Assessment in English & Creative Writing at Exeter – Dr Jo Freer (University of Exeter)
Patterns Beyond Labels: Supporting the Diverse Needs of all Learners – Abby Osborne, Robert Eaton, Lynn Cheong-White (University of Bath)
Reimagining Biosciences: Diversifying, Decolonising and Integrating Global Perspectives through Inclusive Curriculum Planning – Dr Yusra Siddiqui (University of Exeter)
Reintegrating the Human into the Dissertation Writing Process – Dr Joel Lazarus (University of Bath)
Supporting a Sense of Belonging: Exeter’s Journey of Offering Peer-Peer Mentoring for Underrepresented Students – Emma Norman (University of Exeter)
Facilitating Inclusive Learning Environments: The Use of Focus/Writing Retreats at a Programme Level – Sian Robinson (University of Exeter)
RISE: Researching the International Student Experience – Maxine Gilway, Kevin Haines, Maria Tsapali, Sue Horseman, Catriona Johnson, Maggie Boswell (University of Bristol)
Social Stories for Transitions – Deborah Johnson, Caroline Keenan, Rachel Griffiths, Jo Sutherst (University of Exeter)
Queer Science Competition and Encouraging a Sense of Belonging for LGBTQ+ people in STEMM – Andrew Griffiths (University of Exeter)
This conference aims to support educators from South-West universities in improving their understanding of inclusive education and universal design for learning, leading to improved teaching and supervision approaches that recognise and celebrate diversity.
The conference will open with talks from keynote speakers, Professor Nicola Martin and Dr Heather Sears. There will be presentations throughout the day from each GW4 institution, showcasing examples of case studies and practical tips about how they have introduced the principles of Universal Design for Learning into their learning and teaching practice. Workshops, as well as refreshment & lunch breaks, will provide networking opportunities and ways for educators to share their best practices and projects related to the topic of Universal Design for Learning.
Presenters and delegates will also have the opportunity to contribute to a conference Padlet, building up an online bank of presentation slides, helpful websites, and other resources they would recommend. The final session of the day will be a plenary reviewing the Padlet, drawing conference threads together and discussing future partnership and how to develop a community of practice to promote a shared resource for all to benefit from.
Professor of Social Justice and Inclusive Education LSBU
Nicola has held various academic and leadership roles in the sector, including leading professional services functions and research centres. She has developed the successful EdD in Social Justice and Inclusive Education, MA Education /Autism and the Critical Autism and Disability Studies (CADS) Research Group at LSBU. CADS participatory, interdisciplinary research focusses on inclusive education across the age range, through Universal Design for Learning; equity in employment; mentoring; wellbeing and fulfilment. Currently Nicola leads the Building Future Communities Research Centre.
Fair employment of autistic and disabled researchers is a key principle of CADS engagement with funded research. The Participatory Autism Research Collective (PARC) originated within CADS and (although unfunded) provides networking and peer support opportunities for autistic scholars.
Nicola is a National Teaching Fellow, RSA Fellow, Senior Fellow of the HEA and an Accredited Speaker for the CPD Standards Office, and holds various visiting professorships and fellowships and external examiner posts. She is an advisor to The National Association of Disability Practitioners.
During 23-24, Nicola is co-editing three books, two focussing on aspects of Universal Design for Learning and the third on Autism Wellbeing and Fulfilment across the life course.
She has 15 doctoral completions and currently supervises 8 students.
Deputy Director, Design and Delivery Lead Researcher on the Next Generative Research SuperVision Project (RSVP) and Head of Researcher Development at Coventry University
Dr Heather Sears is Head of Researcher Development at Coventry University, UK. Heather has been immersed in researcher development since 2005. In her current role, she leads a team delivering an extensive programme of high quality, innovative developmental initiatives for researchers from ‘PhD to Professor’ including induction, research ethics and integrity, research methods, supervisor development and targeted development for middle-career researchers and research leaders.
Alongside her institutional role, Heather is the Deputy Director, Design and Delivery Lead Researcher on the Next Generation Research SuperVision Project (RSVP), a £4.6million, Research England funded project designed to transform the culture and practice of research supervision.
The GW4 Alliance is one of the project’s practitioner partners who will work with the six core member (York, Coventry, KCL, Sheffield Hallam, Nottingham, UK Council for Graduate Education) to pilot and evaluate professional development for research supervisors at all career stages.