The initiative focuses on developing an e-learning course in entrepreneurship while also shaping an approach to applying Universal Design for Learning (UDL) across various areas of education.
As Joanna Sztobryn-Giercuszkiewicz, PhD, head of the Academic Support Zone at Lodz University of Technology, explains:
In the D.E.F. project, we assume that accessibility should not be treated as a final stage requiring adjustments and corrections, but as an integral part of the design process. In practice, this means creating educational courses that take into account, from the very beginning, diverse ways of perceiving content, communicating, and (co-)participating in the learning process.
Specialized university units are involved in implementing the project. The Information Technology Centre (CTI) is responsible for developing and implementing the course’s technological solutions, while the Academic Support Zone (formerly the Office for Persons with Disabilities) acts as an accessibility consultant. This cooperation allows the combination of technical expertise with specialized knowledge on inclusivity, resulting in a coherent and functional educational environment.
The project places particular emphasis on the needs of Deaf and hard-of-hearing learners. Przemysław Sękalski,PhD, Director of CTI, explains:
The course we are developing will not be limited to standard solutions such as captions or transcripts. It will also consider a broader communication and cognitive context — including the role of visual language, content structure, and interaction methods with learning materials. In this way, the project seeks to move away from an education model based solely on spoken language.
Although the D.E.F. course focuses on entrepreneurship for Deaf individuals, the universal design principles developed in the project are transferable. They can be applied in creating e-learning courses across different fields — both technical and social — helping universities build more accessible and inclusive educational environments. The project will also produce a guide for university teachers on creating inclusive e-learning.
The D.E.F. project is implemented in cooperation with the University of Rome Tor Vergata (the project leader), University of Social Sciences in Łódź, as well as the European Union of the Deaf (EUD), the European Association of Erasmus Coordinators (EAEC), and Falco & Associati SRL. More information about the initiative is available on the project website: DEF Project.
