Daniel Elliot

Certificate in Universal Design for Learning (UDL)

Sligo

Can you tell us your name, job title and the course you studied at ATU? 

Daniel Elliott – I’m University for All Programme Manager in UCD Access & Lifelong Learning. I completed the Postgraduate Certificate in Universal Design for Learning (UDL).

Can you share your career path to date?

I started off working in recruitment in London before moving into career guidance in higher education. After six years living in the UK, I moved back to Dublin and started working in UCD Access & Lifelong Learning and have worked there in various roles for the past three years. I can’t say there was a clear path or plan along the way, but I’ve enjoyed and learned a lot from each opportunity.

What does your current role involve?

University for All is UCD answer to making access and inclusion the business of every member of our university community. Our student population is more diverse than ever before and in my role as Programme Manager, I support colleagues and students in making UCD’s teaching & learning, ways of working, processes and systems more inclusive. That’s where Universal Design comes in. My role focuses on building the Universal Design of all areas of university life. I do that through workshops, training, communications and various other projects including our partnership programmes with faculty, staff and students.

What motivated you to start studying? 

I really wanted to do a deep dive into Universal Design, to understand the UDL framework better and to identify more opportunities for how I utilise it and share those opportunities as part of the University for All initiative. Really engaging with it on an academic level and understand where it’s rationale and the evidence for it, came from.

Why did you choose this course from ATU?

The postgraduate certificate at ATU in UDL is the first of its kind, so it was the immediate choice. I also wanted something that was really going to benefit me in my day to day work so the practical nature of this course was attractive.

How did you find the process of studying online? What elements did you find helpful? Were there elements you found challenging? 

The group was small so the online classes each week felt personal, and you got to know other students with plenty of interaction online each Wednesday. The flipped classroom approach really engaged you in the material and helped stimulate the in-class discussion. The course materials on Moodle were easy to find and navigate through. The lecturer, Maureen Haran is very supportive and helpful, so you don’t feel isolated.

How did you balance work and study?

You have to be that bit more disciplined with studying online/remotely, I think. It was challenging to carve out the necessary time to give the course the attention it required. But I do think this course allows for flexibility to fit around people’s schedules. The assignments are very practical and apply to your everyday work.

In terms of your employer, were they supportive of your decision to study? Were there elements of the course that were particularly relevant to your current employer? 

They were more than supportive, they actively encouraged it. UDL really is the bread and butter of what we do in UCD Access & Lifelong Learning; how we communicate it to our colleagues and wider audiences is really important. 

What advice would you have for anyone considering studying online?

Find a rhythm that works best for you. It is different to studying in-person, but it can really challenge you. Getting other people’s perspectives through class discussion and interaction is always fascinating. Be disciplined as well and plan out time for coursework and assignments the same way you would with work.

In what way has studying online with ATU benefitted your career?

It’s still early days but I’d like to think the course has given me a greater understanding of UDL, it’s value and why it’s so integral for universities to adopt it to benefit all students. It’s reminded me to stay curious, to keep engaging with the body of research and how UDL is being implemented around the world.