European Access Network 2025

UCD Access & Lifelong Learning was delighted to attend the European Access Network conference on June 10th and 11th at the University of Galway. Staff were delighted to be joined by five students who presented about their work with us during the conference. The theme for this year’s conference was Universal Design and presented an opportunity for the team to share various aspects of our work including our All Welcome Programme, Toolkit for Universal Design in Higher Education and our University for All research showing progress in student perception of inclusion across UCD. One of our students was awarded a bursary by the EAN organising committee at University of Galway and took part in additional activities at the conference.

In a fast paced 36 hour trip to Galway the team made connections with colleagues from across Europe and Ireland and even took the time to take a quick dip in the Atlantic! UCD has a long history of engagement with the European Access Network having hosted the conference here in 2016. Our Access Leaders Blessed Rita Fonkoh, Niamh Andrews Fraher and Soffiyah Adewoyin ran a fantastic workshop showcasing how to embed Universal Design across the student support lifecycle. One of the highlights for us was hearing our Student Partners Eleanor O’Kelly and Zara Brennan sharing the phenomenal work of our University for All student partners. They got great engagement from the audience and were able to share the student partner’s work on our 2025 Inclooza Palooza!