University honoured for disabled access scheme

Judges said the university project could "drive positive change for the whole university community"

The University of Bradford has won a prestigious award for developing a system that makes it easier for disabled students to access scientific laboratories.

The project's leader said biomedical science and related courses involved a lot of practical lab work and students with certain disabilities often struggled with this.

The Times Higher Education Award judges said the system developed by the university to address this was "incredibly impactful".

The accolade was given in recognition of the institution's outstanding contribution to equality, diversity and inclusion.

Dr Sobia Kauser, who worked on the project, said there were increasing numbers of students joining the university with "increasing complex needs that find laboratory work particularly challenging and require specific adjustments in the laboratory environment."

She said the approach developed was student-focused and placed the student's personal experience, wisdom and expertise of their own impairment at the heart of the process.

Disability advisor Stuart Walker and Dr Sobia Kauser said they were honoured to receive the award

Students are "empowered" by completing an online questionnaire outlining barriers they face and solutions that work for them.

This then updates a specially designed database and informs appropriate staff.

Students are then invited to an online or in-person meeting where a risk assessment is produced and appropriate adjustments made.

Disability advisor Stuart Walker, who also worked on the project, said: "We were really pleased and humbled to have won this award.

"It's wonderful news for our university to be recognised in this category and reflects on the hard work of all those who contributed to the project."

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