Pioneering Inclusion: A Decade of Transforming Higher Education: Reena Gupta, Director, Office of Learning Support, Ashoka University
In just a decade, Ashoka University has become a pioneer in higher education and disability inclusion, with the College Readiness Programme (CRP) empowering students with disabilities to confidently transition to higher education and advocate for themselves.
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It is no mean feat for a University to be the pioneer in the disciplines it believes in, in just one decade of its existence. I feel privileged to have played a role in this journey of transforming higher education in India. For instance, we as a University challenged the status quo of inclusion for disabilities ten years ago, and today we take pride in being trailblazers in this field. And we’ve just started!
The College Readiness Programme (CRP), launched by the Office of Learning Support (OLS), puts the spotlight on the importance of preparing students with disabilities for higher education much in advance. The modules give them the tools that alleviate their fears about life after school, guide them towards the right subject selection in school, and take them on a journey of being an independent learner. It’s hugely satisfying for us to see these students, gaining confidence from this programme, and starting to advocate for themselves and seeking strategies to manage their learning difficulties.
Going forward, this programme has a great potential to significantly increase the enrolment of students with disabilities in higher education in India, which otherwise is abysmally low.
Study at Ashoka
