Institutional Excellence Center
Sustainability Office

SDG 4: Quality Education

4.3.5 Lifelong learning access policy

SDG 4 | QUALITY EDUCATION

[4.3] Lifelong learning measures
[4.3.5] Lifelong learning access policy
1. Executive Summary
 

Inclusive Education at Palestine Technical University – Kadoorie (PTUK) reflects the university’s ongoing commitment to ensuring that education is accessible, equitable, and supportive of all learners, regardless of background, ability, or socioeconomic status. This focus area emphasizes creating a learning environment where every student has the opportunity to succeed and participate fully in academic life. PTUK promotes inclusivity by providing academic support services, counseling, accessible learning materials, adaptive technologies, and flexible pedagogical approaches that address diverse learning styles and individual needs.

The university works to identify and reduce barriers that may limit student participation, whether they are physical, academic, financial, or social. Faculty and staff receive guidance and training on inclusive instructional strategies, classroom engagement, and student support approaches that enhance learning outcomes for students with varying abilities. Additionally, PTUK collaborates with schools, disability support organizations, and governmental agencies to strengthen policies and practices that promote inclusion across educational settings.

This focus area directly advances SDG 4 (Quality Education) by supporting the principle that education must be inclusive, equitable, and responsive to learner diversity. It also aligns with SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) by promoting equal opportunities and reducing learning disparities. Through inclusive education policies and practices, PTUK fosters a culture of respect, belonging, and shared responsibility within the campus community.

By ensuring that every student can participate meaningfully and reach their full potential, PTUK reinforces its role as a university that values human dignity, social justice, and educational empowerment for all.

SDG 4 – Quality Education
SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities
2. Lifelong learning access policy - Activities
 
01. Edu4ALL – Empowering and Including Students with Disabilities in Higher Education
An Erasmus+ project coordinated by PTUK, aimed at improving the inclusion of students with disabilities in higher education. The project supported the establishment of an Inclusive Education Unit, development of institutional policies, staff capacity building, and provision of assistive technologies. It addressed students with visual, hearing, and physical disabilities. The project included capacity building public awareness campains ,visits to centres. It also encouraged positive discrimination and sponsorship packages to encourage disabled students to join the university.
02. Edu4ALL Awareness-Raising Workshop
Palestine Technical University Kadoorie (PTUK), in partnership with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and sponsored by Bank of Palestine, organized face-2-face awareness raising workshop entitled “Edu4ALL: Empowering and Including Students with disabilities in Higher Education”. The workshop aims at raising the awareness and illustrating the role of inclusive education and its impact for building the capacity of students with disabilities. More than 150 participants from Palestine attended the workshop Sign-language interpretation was provided to ensure accessibility. The workshop discussed a number of issues facing persons with disabilities especially in terms of integrating them into university education, in addition to the mechanisms for overcoming all obstacles and difficulties that may hinder their path, and how to overcome obstacles and challenges in front of them.
03. Provision of Assistive Equipment for Students with Visual Impairments
PTUK received two electronic glasses for blind users and 2,000 sheets of Braille paper from the Palestinian General Union of Persons with Disabilities – Tulkarm Branch. This initiative supports accessible learning materials and improves the participation of visually impaired students in university education. During the meeting, both sides emphasized the importance of this initiative in enhancing the educational services provided to students with disabilities and empowering them to fully integrate into the university environment. A joint meeting was also held, during which both parties agreed to continue their cooperation in supporting students with disabilities and to expand the range of services provided by the university to people with disabilities from the local community — reaffirming PTUK’s leading role in promoting inclusion, accessibility, and empowerment through education and community engagement.
04. Theatre Performance on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
The Center for the Care of Persons with Disabilities, affiliated with the Deanship of Student Affairs at Palestine Technical University – Kadoorie PTUK, organized an awareness-raising theatre performance in cooperation with the Tulkarm Directorate of Social Development and the Independent Commission for Human Rights. The performance, titled Ziyad Above Al-Nawras Mountain, was presented by the Popular Theatre Foundation as part of activities marking the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The theatrical production addressed issues of empowerment and the rights of persons with disabilities, highlighting the importance of social and educational inclusion and the role of institutions in supporting their abilities and promoting their effective participation in various aspects of life.
05. Establishment of the Center for the Care of People with Disabilities – Education for All
PTUK provides an institutional mechanism to identify students' needs, facilitate access to educational materials, support examination arrangements and registration, provide academic and psychological guidance, and encourage participation in university activities.
The centers vision is Creating a pioneering academic environment conducive to students with disabilities by supporting their academic, social, psychological and economic needs.
The center is working to achieve the following objectives
Adapting the university's academic environment to the needs of students with disabilities.
Providing equal opportunities for students with disabilities to participate in the university's courses, programs, and activities.
Enhancing the students' independence, nurturing their spirit of cooperation, and highlighting their full potential.
Raising confident and active individuals in society who are capable of contributing to its progress.
06. Loans & Grants Department (Scholarships & Aid)
The Loans and Grants Department looks forward to helping students in providing a range of grants and aids, whether grants and exemptions approved by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education or external grants through supportive agencies and institutions for needy and distinguished students. To help them complete their university education . The university seeks to build a society based on social solidarity so that it enjoys social responsibility towards individuals. PTUK Provides financial assistance, grants and emergency aid to socially challanged or handicapped students as well as outstanding students to promote inclusion and access. This activity strengthens educational quality, informed practice, and enhancing learner outcomes. It emphasizes capacity development, institutional collaboration, and sustained impact on teaching and learning environments.
07. Student Affairs: Counseling & Support
The student affairs deanship provides Counseling, orientation and support services to foster inclusion and student wellbeing across diverse backgrounds. This activity strengthens educational quality, supporting evidence-informed practice, and enhancing learner outcomes. It emphasizes capacity development, institutional collaboration, and sustained impact on teaching and learning environments.
08. Expanded Workshop in Support of Students with Disabilities
Organized by PTUK's Center for the Care of People with Disabilities – Education for All, in cooperation with the Makers Association and as part of an assistive-devices project funded by ANERA. The workshop assessed the needs of students with physical, hearing, and visual disabilities. Assistive devices were distributed, with additional equipment planned according to individual needs. The workshop brought together PTUK students with physical, hearing, and visual disabilities, aiming to introduce available services, assess needs, and provide appropriate support.

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