A panel discussion entitled “Inclusiveness in Higher Education” was held on 17 December 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Split. The event was organised as part of the project Postdigital and Inclusive Higher Education: Transformation and Well-being of the Individual and the System (PIVO: PIHE). Its aim was to provide a platform for the exchange of knowledge, experiences, and examples of good practice related to ensuring equal opportunities in higher education, with a particular focus on students with disabilities.
The panel brought together distinguished experts in the fields of student support and counselling. The panellists included Prof. Ivana Batarelo Kokić, PhD, Department of Pedagogy, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Split; Ivan Bogdanović, Head of the Office for Students with Disabilities at the University of Split; Ante Gudelj, Commissioner for Students with Disabilities at the Faculty of Economics, Business and Tourism, University of Split; and Assoc. Prof. Marina Vidaković, PhD, Head of the Student Counselling Centre at the University of Zadar. The discussion was moderated by Prof. Ina Reić Ercegovac, PhD, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Split and the project leader.
The discussion offered a range of perspectives from the participants, who shared examples of good practice while also highlighting pressing challenges, particularly those related to students’ mental health. The panellists emphasised the importance of systematic institutional support for students with diverse needs, the role of academic and professional staff in creating an inclusive learning environment, and the challenges involved in implementing inclusive measures in practice. Particular emphasis was placed on the need to provide training programmes that would support teaching staff and other stakeholders in addressing these challenges effectively.
