Lecturer Marisa Carvalho presented innovative strategies for building more inclusive schools, involving contexts, resources, and processes.
Educational inclusion was the central theme of the Education Conference held by the Agrupamento de Escolas de Arouca. The event, which brought together over two hundred teachers, educators, and therapists, featured the participation of lecturer and researcher from the Faculty of Education and Psychology of the Portuguese Catholic University (FEP-UCP), Marisa Simões Carvalho, who led the training session entitled, “Towards a more inclusive school: contexts, resources, and processes.”
A meeting to share practices and promote inclusion
The Education Conference (Jornadas de Educação) is an annual space for reflection and the sharing of good pedagogical practices, aiming to equip professionals to promote academic success and inclusion. This year, the topic of inclusion took on particular relevance, reflecting one of the biggest challenges in contemporary education.
In her presentation, Marisa Carvalho introduced a practical and innovative approach, centred on Universal Design for Learning (UDL), which seeks to align learning and participation processes with human and material resources, within contexts that encompass the classroom, the school, and the community.
“Universal Design for Learning constitutes a supportive model for pedagogical planning and action that considers student diversity as well as barriers to learning. These aspects are essential when we intend to think about our lessons in a more inclusive way, responding to questions such as: ‘Who are my students?’, ‘What are the barriers that hinder their learning and participation in the classroom?’ or ‘What can I do to eliminate those same barriers?’,” she stated.
Strategies for an inclusive school
The lecturer, who also coordinates the Educational Improvement Service (Serviço de Apoio à Melhoria da Educação - SAME), highlighted guiding principles for an inclusive school, emphasising the importance of promoting motivated, informed, and strategic students. Among the proposals presented, six guidelines for the continuous construction of inclusive educational environments stand out: Know, Diversify, Value, Collaborate, Make mistakes and Learn, Believe and Inspire.
These guidelines are intended to support professionals in creating pedagogical practices that respect diversity and foster the participation of all.
According to Marisa Carvalho, “effective inclusion stems from valuing diversity. Understanding the difference between people and recognising it as an opportunity for interpersonal learning and growth is a critical factor in creating more inclusive environments.”
The Conference took place on 11 November 2025, at the Arouca Interactive Tourism Shop (Loja Interativa de Turismo de Arouca).
