INCLUSIVE PEDAGOGY AT SCALE: A MODEL FOR BUILDING CAPACITY THROUGH DIGITAL TRAINING AND POLICY IMPLEMENTATION
Author
Elona KARAFILI, Polis University, Tirana, Albania
Flora KRASNIQI, Polis University, Tirana, Albania
Ariola MEMIA, Polis University, Tirana, Albania
Abstract
This paper presents a comprehensive model for building institutional capacity in inclusive pedagogy using digital training and cross-border collaboration. Drawing on the experience of the Inclusive Tertiary Education in the Western Balkans (IDEA) project, this paper explores how a structured, multi-phase digital training program empowered higher education institutions (HEIs) in Albania, Kosovo, and Montenegro to institutionalise inclusive teaching practices. The initiative addressed long-standing challenges in supporting students with disabilities (SwD) and students with learning difficulties (SwLD) through a strategically coordinated capacity-building model. The program incorporated expert-led workshops, hands-on virtual visits, localised policy development, and feedback mechanisms rooted in real-time digital monitoring. By leveraging accessible technologies and fostering collaboration between Western Balkan and EU institutions, the project scaled inclusive pedagogy across diverse institutional and national contexts. The paper outlines the training design, digital delivery methods, and feedback systems, and evaluates their effectiveness in sustaining pedagogical change through policy implementation and continuous professional development. Insights into institutional ownership, content localisation, and policy alignment highlight key lessons for future digital capacity-building efforts in higher education.
Keywords: Inclusive pedagogy, digital training, higher education, assistive technology, policy implementation.
