SumDU hosted the webinar “Implementing Accessibility Policies at the University”. It was organized within the second stage of the Education Marathon “Public Administration Without Barriers”.

The initiative was implemented with participation of the Center for Professional and Postgraduate Education, the Oleh Balatskyi Department of Management and the Center for Computer Technologies.

The event brought together students, faculty, and experts from various fields around a key idea: accessibility is not just about infrastructure but also equal opportunities, inclusion, and access to rights of every person.

The key topics of the webinar were:

• Implementation of accessibility policies in education;
• Creation of an inclusive educational environment;
• Functioning of the university library as an accessible space that ensures equal access to information.

Speakers were:

• Adriana KOSTENKO – head of the Department of Psychology, Political Science, and Sociocultural Technologies; director of the Center for Social Research; board member of the NGO “Intellect of Sumy Region”;
• Valentyna OPANASIUK – associate professor at the Department of Psychology, Political Science, and Sociocultural Technologies;
• Iryna KOVALENKO – deputy director of the SumDU Library.

A highlight of the event was presentation of the course “Barrier-Free Environment Policy: Ukrainian and Global Experience”.

“Young people develop initiatives, and faculty supports their growth. This is exactly how the course “Policy of a Barrier-Free Environment: Ukrainian and Global Experience” came to be at SumDU. Its significance lies in the fact that students identify problems and propose new solutions. It is from the student ranks that strategies capable of changing society begin,” – noted Valentyna OPANASIUK.

Iryna KOVALENKO highlighted the library’s role in creating a barrier-free environment:

“The project “Library for Accessibility” aims to create a space where every user feels comfortable and confident. We are working to eliminate not only physical barriers but also information and communication barriers, in particular by adapting digital services and implementing inclusive approaches in the library’s operations”.

The discussion was focused on a values-based approach to social responsibility. Participants emphasized that accessibility policy is a joint effort of the state, universities, and citizens. It encompasses not only physical space but also education, digital services, employment, and participation in public life.

Particular emphasis was placed on expanding opportunities for individuals and community. In this process, the university serves not only as an educational center but also as a platform for developing new approaches, testing and implementing them.

“SumDU operates within the paradigm of the third mission – contributing to development of society. In the realm of accessibility, this means influencing communities, shaping policies, and transferring the best practices. We are creating an environment where solutions can be tested, barriers can be explored, and recommendations can be developed for scaling up to the community level,” – emphasized Andriana KOSTENKO.

She also spoke about university’s research activities, including participation in projects of urban environment, gender-sensitive community recovery, strategic document analysis, support of veterans and their reintegration into civilian life.

The event marked another step toward formation of a systematic accessibility policy. It reaffirmed the important role of universities as agents of social change.