Maynooth University Department of Education

Our 3rd International UDL Symposium - Changing mindsets, changing practice

This year's theme is Inclusion: Changing mindsets, changing practice. Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a framework for addressing the educational needs of diverse and variable learners in many settings across many stages of life. The UDL Guidelines can be used by educators, curriculum developers, researchers, parents, and anyone else who wants to implement the UDL framework in a learning environment. 

The purpose of this UDL International Symposium is to create an opportunity for those at all stages of their UDL journey to come together and share their learning.  We invite those using or interested in using UDL in their practice, researchers, and experts across a variety of educational and inclusion settings to facilitate workshops where we can further develop our knowledge, understanding and practice of UDL.

This year's symposium will be an in-person event, hosted by Maynooth University and will take place on Monday 15 and Tuesday 16^th September, 2025 in the Westgrove Hotel, Clane, Co Kildare.
 

Call for Proposals 

UDL International Symposium: “Inclusion: changing mindsets, changing practice” invites national and international students, teachers, researchers and other practitioners and advocates of UDL/Inclusion across a variety of educational and inclusion fields to submit proposals to facilitate workshops/paper presentations.

Submission deadline: Friday 28 March, by 5pm GMT 

• Please note: All authors who are presenting must be registered by May 26th, 5pm GMT. Submissions where authors have not registered will be considered withdrawn after this date. 
• Presentations must be submitted by Monday August 25^th
• Please submit your proposal through this form
• You can use the following submission template to prepare your proposal in advance of completing the form -  Submission Template
   

Submission Guidelines

Applicants are invited to submit for one of the following formats.

1. Traditional Research Presentation (20 minutes total – 15 minute presentation with 5 minute Q&A)
Consider this as an opportunity to display your expert knowledge via verbal presentation with accompanying visual aids (Slideshows or otherwise). You will present your content for 15 minutes, followed by a 5-minute Questions and Answers session. If your presentation is research-based with empirical evidence, we suggest you structure your presentation under the following guidelines;
- Background Research and Objectives
- Research Methods
- Findings of your Research and Discussion points
- Conclusion
For those presentations that are not founded upon research, we suggest that you outline the importance of your presentation, why you chose to share this and how it can meaningfully impact UDL.
 

2. Traditional Practices Presentation (20 minutes total – 15 minute presentation with 5 minute Q&A)
This is a chance to showcase what UDL looks like in practice within your context. Presentations of this nature will outline the ‘What?’, ‘Why?’, and most importantly the ‘How?’ with regards to the incorporation of UDL in your context. You have the freedom to design this presentation how you feel will work best, however we do advise that you clearly articulate the following messages;

• What is the purpose of your session?
• Are there any frameworks, theories or underpinnings that inform your practice?
• How are you incorporating UDL in practice?

These sessions will operate exactly like the ‘Traditional Research’ presentations, with 15 minutes given for presentation and 5 minutes for Questions and Answers.
 
3. Interactive Workshop (Research) - 40 minutes total – 30-minute presentation, 10-minute Q&A
This option can be selected either by individuals or by groups. Your presentation should have a significant focus on the development of UDL. This presentation may look different for each group, however the emphasis should be placed on reviewing/presenting research papers and/or empirical data associated with the development of UDL in relation to your chosen topic. The medium through which this presentation is delivered is entirely the choice of the group/individual presenting. Presentations will last no longer than 30 minutes, followed by a 10 minute ‘Questions and Answers’ session. Alternatively, questions can be embedded throughout the workshop.
 
4. Interactive Workshop (Practice) - 40 minutes total – 30-minute presentation, 10-minute Q&A
This option can be selected either by individuals or by groups. Your presentation should have a significant focus on the development of UDL. This presentation may look different for each group. Some examples may include but are not limited to;

• Sharing best practice that will take longer than the 20 minutes allocated for the ‘Traditional Practices’ session
• A group/individual from a range of different backgrounds sharing their stories of UDL to provide examples of application in different contexts
• Facilitating a guided debate related to teaching, learning and assessment in relation to UDL

Individuals/groups who select this option will present for 30 minutes, followed by a 10 minute ‘Questions and Answers’ session. Alternatively, questions can be embedded throughout the workshop.
 
5. Poster presentation (20 minutes total – 15 minute presentation, 5 minute Q&A)
Individuals/groups who choose to present a poster have complete liberty to design their poster in any way they see fit. Some examples could include a poster made using digital software (PowerPoint, Google Docs, Prezi, etc.), digital posters using a QR code, or any other format the presenter may deem acceptable for displaying their content. Abstracts for poster submissions do not have a rigid structure, but those who chose this option may use abstract guidelines from the previous ‘Traditional’ options (research or practice) for some direction. Posters will remain available for viewing throughout the symposium.
 
6. Storytelling (20 minutes total – 15 minute presentation, 5 minute Q&A)
This is an opportunity for individuals/groups to share their personal anecdotes and experiences in relation to UDL in an innovative manner with little to no supporting materials. In their abstract, those who wish to select this option should include;

• The story they intend to share with the attendees
• The importance/significance of this story
• Important questions arising from the story you are telling

The stories told in this format can vary greatly from personal experiences with UDL and inclusion in your context, practical applications that were successful/unsuccessful for you, problems and solutions you have identified that could contribute to organisational changes, etc.
 
7. Making a change (15 minutes presentation, 5 minutes Q&A)
This is an opportunity for individuals/groups to share an example of one change they have made to their practice to caret a more inclusive learning community. Linking this change to UDL is requested but we also welcome connections to other approaches that support inclusion, for example trauma informed awareness, cultural responsive, restorative practices or any other approach that supports your inclusive practice. In their abstract, those who wish to choose this option should include,

• The change they made
• The rationale for this change
• Connections to UDL/ other approaches that support inclusion
• Notes on reflections (benefits and challenges)

 

Session Topics

We are looking for proposals that represent a wide variety of content areas and age levels. To this end, please choose ONE primary topic from the list below that best represents the topic you will be presenting, and as many Tags/Keywords as appropriate.

• UDL in practice
• UDL research
• UDL in policy
• Equity, diversity, inclusion and UDL
• Technology for Inclusion
• Emotional Capacity/Wellbeing
• Enacting UDL 
• Do you have another idea? We would love to hear about it!

 

• Session Tags/Keywords
  • Early Childhood Education
  • Primary
  • Post-Primary/Secondary
  • Further and Higher Education
  • Professional Learning/Development
  • Employment
  • Social inclusion