Learning Without Limits: Identifying the Barriers and Enablers to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion in IS Education

Authors

Dinali Wijeratne, National University of Ireland GalwayFollow
Denis Dennehy, National University of Ireland GalwayFollow
Shivaun Quinlivan, National University of Ireland GalwayFollow
Lucy-Ann Buckley, National University of Ireland GalwayFollow
Cameron Keighron, National University of Ireland GalwayFollow
Sharon Flynn, National University of Ireland GalwayFollow

Abstract

Inclusion in Information Systems (IS) has received significant attention in recent years, but inclusion in IS curriculum design and delivery is comparatively underdeveloped. Understanding and working with diversity in IS student groups has implications for how we prepare students for a diverse workplace and the design and development of IS systems. Although progress has been made towards inclusive higher education, institutions have not transformed into multicultural diverse organizations. This paper showcases an initiative to apply principles of Universal Design in the particular context of an IS postgraduate programme in a leading Irish business school. This initiative is set within the context of two connected research projects seeking to identify barriers to inclusion experienced by students generally, and particularly by certain student groups, in the same school. The findings demonstrate the persistence of inclusion issues in higher education, including in IS, that Universal Design principles are effective in developing more inclusive teaching and learning practices, and that small actions can have a big impact in this regard. A set of key recommendations is provided; while not exhaustive, these contribute to the wider discourse on inclusion and offer practical suggestions to educators on the design and delivery of inclusive programmes at both undergraduate and postgraduate level.

Recommended Citation

Wijeratne, Dinali; Dennehy, Denis; Quinlivan, Shivaun; Buckley, Lucy-Ann; Keighron, Cameron; and Flynn, Sharon (2022) "Learning Without Limits: Identifying the Barriers and Enablers to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion in IS Education," Journal of Information Systems Education: Vol. 33 : Iss. 1 , 61-74.
Available at: https://aisel.aisnet.org/jise/vol33/iss1/8