“Smartly included!” A contest for exposing students to experiential learning activities applied to accessibility and social inclusion

Abstract

INTRODUCTION. In the society of the 21st century, higher education institutions must produce technologically advanced citizens with strong humanistic values. The contest "Smartly Included!" points in that direction by combining Experiential Learning (which allows for developing more significant learning, fostering teamwork and bringing university education closer to the future professional life of students) with the promotion of more humanistic values in education. The contest exposes students to real-life inclusion and accessibility problems, in order for they can research, propose, elaborate and implement solutions. In this process, students are put in contact with institutions and companies that promote and fight for these values on a daily basis. METHOD. The contest is aimed at students from the European University campuses in Madrid, the Canary Islands and Valencia, and also includes students from the Higher Level Training Cycle (CFGS). This implicit multidisciplinary approach is very important to face problems more efficiently, from different angles.