BERT Final Conference in Kigali: From Commitment to Action in Inclusive Higher Education

The four-day event (18-21 May) was the final event of the Breaking Education Barriers: Inclusion, Rehabilitation and Technology (BERT) project, which aims to transform higher education systems into more inclusive, accessible, and equitable spaces for all learners.

Opening the Dialogue: A Call for Systemic Change

The conference opened with a welcome speech by Prof. David Tumusiime, the BERT project lead at the University of Rwanda, who highlighted key findings from the project's landscape analysis research. The most significant finding was the limited application of inclusive education practices.

Ms. Aychesh Nigussie Koski, BERT Project lead at Jamk University of Applied Sciences, underscored the urgency of implementing inclusive education policies, emphasizing that education is a fundamental human right, as clearly stipulated in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities and the Sustainable Development Goals. She conveyed her call to all concerned bodies, including the international stakeholders, to continue working together to ensure that no learner is left behind.

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Rwanda, Prof. Didas Kayihura Muganga, spoke about the power of international collaboration to advance shared goals. He said that it is not enough for universities to profess the principle of inclusion; they must remove accessibility barriers and be institutionally prepared to accept students with disabilities.

Mr. Martin Wiese, speaking on behalf of the EU Delegation to Rwanda, said inclusion was not only a moral obligation but also a development imperative. The exclusion of persons with disabilities means losing talent, innovation, and economic potential. Education systems, therefore, need to be built for all from the start.

The State University of Zanzibar (SUZA) Vice Chancellor, Prof. Abdi T. Abdallaz, in his speech, highlighted how the BERT project has strengthened partnerships among universities and international stakeholders, as well as inclusiveness, and that the lessons will continue to influence practices beyond the project's lifetime. He also underlined the shared responsibility to make sure technologies are built with accessibility in mind.

Senior leadership at Jamk University of Applied Sciences, including Dr. Pekka Anttila, Director of the Institute of Rehabilitation and Dr. Kare Norvapalo, Head of Research and Development, participated in the BERT final conference, demonstrating a genuine commitment to inclusive education. Dr. Norvapalo made a presentation on Jamk's overall strategies, international cooperation, and completed and ongoing projects.

The participation of Jamk's leaders and the leaders of partner universities was significant and sent a strong message: systemic change is achievable when university leaders are committed to inclusive education. The involvement of leadership will help better mainstream accessibility and inclusion into institutional strategies rather than treating them as standalone initiatives.

All the BERT project partners gave presentations at the conference. Results of the landscape analysis were presented by the University of Rwanda and the State University of Zanzibar, with the team from Tampere University presenting results on digital accessibility and assistive technologies.

A highlight was the panel discussion on the gap between inclusive education policies and their practice in Rwanda and East Africa. The discussion focused not only on barriers but also on practical, forward-looking solutions to build more inclusive education systems. The one message that came across all sessions was that policies alone are not enough without implementation, accountability, and institutional commitment.

During the four-day conference, consortium partners also discussed the achievements, challenges, lessons learned, and sustainability of the BERT project. Discussions highlighted the need for ongoing cooperation, institutional ownership, and the integration of accessibility into long-term university planning.

Inclusion in Practice

Conference participants toured the assistive technology hub at CEBE and received a hands-on demonstration of how to use the technologies by students with disabilities.

During the last day, the BERT consortium had the chance to visit the HVP Gatagara Inclusive Education and Rehabilitation Center. It was a powerful reminder that inclusion is not just a concept; it is dignity, opportunity, and equal participation for all learners.

Why Implementation Matters

The conference was filled with a powerful message: It's not policies that change lives, but it's implementation. Inclusive education is an accessible university with trained teachers, assistive technologies and inclusive digital systems, sustainable funding, and meaningful participation of people with disabilities in decision-making.

As the project ends in a few months, BERT's legacy continues through a shared commitment across institutions and countries to leave no learner behind. Because when education is inclusive, societies are stronger, more compassionate, and more just.

More information

Aychesh Nigussie Koski