University of Birmingham Dubai Alternative Pathways conference to run

The University of Birmingham Dubai’s Inclusion and Special Educational Needs (ISEN) team is hosting a week-long series of online lectures, workshops and panel discussions from Sunday 13th – Wednesday 16th June.

The Alternative Pathways Conference will bring together researchers and community foundations, as well as prominent guest speakers representing inclusive employers across the UAE. The conference will discuss alternative pathways, transition planning, community support for adults and inclusive employment, in order to make the student journey a success.

Sunday 13th June 4.30-6pm: Alternative Pathways Panel Discussion

Guest speakers Kamal Bodhanker, Head of International Development at NASEN; Kristen Pelletier, Founding Director and Design Team members of the Next Frontier Inclusion; Karen Hudspith, International Development Manager at ASDAN; and Dr John McNaught, the Principal Investigator of I’m Determined Project, will be discussing how to create inclusive secondary programming.

Monday 14th June 4.30-6.00pm: Transitions Workshop

University of Birmingham lecturers, Dr Sarah Benson and Dr Graeme Dobson will lead school professionals through a workshop around Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCO’s) and Inclusion Leadership, in order to support transition planning throughout the education journey.

Tuesday 15th June 4.30-6.00pm: Adults with Autism and Community Supports

The University of Birmingham’s leading researchers in autism, will join autistic adults and representatives from the Al-Jalila Foundation to discuss how families and communities can continue to support individuals with autism in the post-secondary world.

The University’s expert panel will be moderated by Professor David Sadler, Provost at University of Birmingham Dubai, and Professor Karen Guldberg, Professor in Autism Studies at University of Birmingham, Panellists include Dr Andrea Macleod, Lecturer in Autism at University of Birmingham; Barbara Sandland, parent and PhD student; and Haleema Amin, representative from Al Jalila Foundation.

Wednesday 16th June 4.30-6.00pm: Inclusive Employment

Private and not-for-profit employers from around the UAE, together with the SEDRA Foundation, will discuss the importance of inclusive employment. They will share why and how they have created opportunities for students and people of determination in their organisations. This conversation will be moderated by Ben Bailey, Campus Director of University of Birmingham Dubai and Dr Sarah Benson, Inclusion and Special Education Needs Programme Director at University of Birmingham.

“Schools in the UAE have been working hard to become truly inclusive and the result is that we have more and more students of determination entering secondary school and successfully graduating” commented Dr Sarah Benson, Programme Director and Lecturer of Inclusion and Special Educational Needs (ISEN), University of Birmingham Dubai. “This is the next challenge for schools and the wider community, to create onwards opportunities for everyone.”

The conference is being run by the University of Birmingham Dubai’s School of Education and supports the Postgraduate Certification (PGCert) in Inclusion and Special Educational Needs (ISEN) at the University, as well as the UAE National Agenda for inclusion in schools. You can find more information and register for the conference here: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/dubai-conference

For more information about the University’s Inclusion and Special Educational Needs professional education programmes, please visit https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/dubai/study/courses/professional-education/isen-modules.aspx

As the first global top 100 and UK Russell Group university to establish a campus in Dubai, the University of Birmingham Dubai delivers the highest quality education underpinned by a growing research focus in a leading global educational hub. Prospective students can find more information on applying for courses at the University of Birmingham Dubai at https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/dubai/study/apply/index.aspx