Research Assistant – Strengthening Higher Education Inclusion through Universal Design for Learning (UDL)

Education and Inclusion
Location: St John’s Campus
Post Type: Hourly Paid
Hourly Rate: £13.03 plus £1.82 holiday pay
Contract Type: Fixed Term
– 12 Months
Advertised On: Monday 18 March 2024
Closing Date: Sunday 24 March 2024
Interview Date:
To be confirmed
Reference: SE2403

We are looking for a highly motivated Research Assistant to collaborate on a British Council funded project titled ‘Strengthening Inclusion in Higher Education in Indonesia and the UK through Universal Design for Learning’ at the University of Worcester. This research project is led by Dr Sean Bracken and Dr Alexandra Sewell in collaboration with colleagues and students at the university.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate a capacity to leverage universal design as a mechanism for bringing about transformative change. In doing so skills and competencies required include confidence in managing multiple priorities, meticulous attention to detail, and a commitment to successful project delivery. You will bring excellent written and verbal communication skills, along with the ability to work both autonomously and collaboratively. You will demonstrate exceptional interpersonal and intercultural skills. An ability to learn new techniques quickly is highly desirable and full training will be given as needed.

You will be building lecturers’ knowledge, skills, and capacities for inclusive practice. The following targeted objectives will enable the project team to achieve this: 

Develop, pilot, and evaluate two Continuing Professional Development (CPD) modules in Universal Design for Learning; the first will inform lecturers of the UDL framework, deepening knowledge and understanding. The second will provide practice examples and actionable tasks to develop lecturers’ skills in applying UDL. 

• Foreground mutual benefit and opportunities for both Indonesian and UK scholars and students to learn from each other and culturally contribute to the project through a series of planned participatory action research workshops, both remotely and in-person.
• Model good inclusive practice in the creation of the CPD modules through the application of UDL to the design process. For example, module content will be designed from the outset to be accessible to blind and deaf users.
• Incorporate design elements in the collaborative and research process to ensure that the project reinforces EDI concepts including gender equality.
• Follow a detailed impact plan to ensure influence on structural and institutional change, including global open access to the UDL CPD modules on local, national, and international forums and the INCLUDE website and via the MOOCs available at UI.

This role will be 80 hours over the duration of the contract, this will be negotiated based on availability and the demands of the project.

We value diversity and wish to promote equality at all levels

View All Vacancies