Portrait of an inclusive lecturer: professional and personal attributes

Abstract

This paper explores how 119 Spanish lecturers nominated by their students with disabilities as being inclusive define themselves in terms of their professional and personal attributes. It also analyses how these attributes influence student learning and explores the profile of an ideal inclusive lecturer. We conduct- individual interviews. Three major findings emerged from the data: (1) lecturers facilitate the learning of all students; (2) the professional and personal attributes of lecturers influence students’ success at university; and (3) the way lecturers define themselves and their beliefs regarding what an inclusive lecturer should be like are practically identical. This paper concludes that the narratives of these lecturers may perhaps serve to encourage other professionals to understand the importance of these personal and professional characteristics and readjust their practice in collaboration with colleagues. They may also help lecturers realise that inclusive teaching is something which can be learned.

Keywords:

• Inclusive education
• higher education
• lecturer
• professional attributes
• personal attributes

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness of Spain, State Research Agency and FEDER funds European Union [grant numbers EDU2016-76587-R/ PID2020-112761RB-I00 Feder Funds].

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Availability of data

The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author. The data are not publicly available due to privacy or ethical restrictions.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness of Spain/Feder Funds: [Grant Number EDU2016-76587-R/ PID2020-112761RB-I00].

Notes on contributors

Anabel Moriña

Anabel Moriña is professor in the Department of Teaching and Organization of Education at the University of Seville. Research interests include: educational exclusion, inclusive education, in-service teacher training, disability, Higher Education and qualitative methods.

Inmaculada Orozco

Inmaculada Orozco is Doctoral Teaching Assistant in the Department of Teaching and Organization of Education at the University of Seville. Her research interests include inclusive education in all educational stages, disability, teacher training, and qualitative methods.