Call for Abstracts: ADCET Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Symposium 2025

Navigating Authentic Assessment and Learning in a Digital World

The University of Sydney and Australian Disability Clearinghouse on Education and Training (ADCET) are pleased to announce that abstracts can now be submitted from across the Higher Education (HE) and Vocational Education and Training (VET) sectors for the upcoming Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Symposium 2025. We invite submissions from academics, teachers, VET educators and practitioners.

Event Details

Date: Wednesday 25 June and Thursday 26 June 2025
Location: University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia (In-person and online attendance options available)

Symposium Aims

The UDL Symposium 2025 aims to:

1. Share and showcase knowledge and expertise in Universal Design for Learning
2. Continue developing an Australia-wide network of UDL practitioners and researchers
3. Explore innovative approaches to authentic assessment and learning in digital environments
4. Examine the intersection of AI and UDL principles to enhance inclusive learning experiences and educational accessibility

Who Should Attend

This conference is designed for academic and professional staff within the tertiary education sector (HE & VET) who have an interest in Universal Design for Learning. Potential presenters and participants may include:

• Educators in Higher Education or Vocational Education and Training
• Learning Designers
• Learning Support Staff
• Disability Advisors
• Accessibility Advisors
• Assistive Technology Officers
• Inclusive Education students
• Staff and students with disability in education and training

Call for Abstracts

We welcome abstracts that address Universal Design for Learning (UDL) applications within Higher Education (HE) and Vocational Education and Training (VET) contexts. With the recent release of UDL guidelines 3.0, we encourage abstracts to reflect on how your presentation will link to specific considerations and support learner agency. Where possible, abstracts should highlight the impact on students’ experience and show you how your presentation will address the needs of a diverse audience.

Broad themes:

1. Authentic assessment strategies in a digital world
2. Innovative UDL practices in teaching and learning
3. Unpacking and transitioning to UDL 3.0
4. Gen AI and Assistive Technology (AT) as enablers of inclusion
5. Students as co-designers
6. Institutional-wide approaches to UDL

Abstract Requirements

Ensure that your abstract addresses the following:

• Targets HE or VET
• Clearly addresses one or more of the themes
• Clearly aligns to UDL 3.0 guidelines
• Includes evidence of the impact on the student experience (where possible)
• Articulates a clear, achievable goal for the session
• Explains how the session will be designed to engage a diverse audience

Submission types

• Presentation (25 minutes)
  Presentations can be delivered in-person or on-line. The presentation format offers a focused talk and allows for 5-10 minutes of Q&A with the both the live and on-line audience. Presentations will run on Day 2 of the Symposium and will be delivered in hybrid mode.
• Workshop (60 minutes)
  We are asking for all workshops to be delivered in-person to maximise opportunities for audience interaction. Please plan for at least 30 minutes to include generative conversation, activities and group collaboration. We anticipate there will be limitations for the on-line audience to engage with the interactive component of the session. Workshops will run on both days of the Symposium and will be live streamed.
• Gallery Presentation
  A gallery presentation is a visual summary of your UDL journey and we are asking for presenters to be in-person during the designated session. The gallery presentation can take multiple formats such as a standard poster, physical artifacts, interactive tablets, or a looping video presentation (5-minute maximum with closed captions). Gallery presentation will be held in-person at the end of Day 1 of the Symposium.

Presenter Attendance

• Online
• In-person

Important Dates

• Call for abstracts open: Mid-November 2024
• Call for abstracts close: Mid-February 2025

Submission Guidelines

Submissions are welcome in either writing or as a recording.

• Indicate your preference for presentation format (in person or online) plus presentation format
• Presentation Title and Brief Description
• Presentation Theme
• Abstract (300 words or less) or a video/audio recording to be uploaded to YouTube, Vimeo or a Shared Folder, maximum 2 minutes (transcript required)
• Contact Information
• Additional Presenters (if applicable) and contact details
• Level of UDL expertise required by the participants
• Specific technical support
• Accessibility adjustments

By submitting your abstract, you acknowledge the following:

• Your submission will be reviewed by a selection committee for the Symposium and may, or may not be, selected for inclusion in the symposium
• You may be contacted to provide additional information (if needed) by the selection committee

If your submission is successful you agree to the following:

• To provide your materials/slides in an accessible format and by the required date
• To allow the recording of your session and your slides/materials to be added to the ADCET website
• For your images and presentations to be used for promotion pre and post the Symposium
• For virtual presenters: You have access to reliable internet and video conferencing capabilities

Join us in Sydney to contribute to the growing body of knowledge on Universal Design for Learning and help shape the future of inclusive education in Australia's tertiary sector.

If you have any questions regarding your abstract submissions please email admin@adcet.edu.au.

Submit an abstract for the ADCET 2025 UDL Symposium

In partnership with:

Supported by: