1. What do we understand by Inclusive Education?
Some observations about the UN convention on the rights of people with disabilities.

2. Dr. Steven Cowan The Institute of Education
Specialising in Education since 1902

3. Recent and forthcoming publications
History of Raising the School Leaving Age. Working Children in Haryana State, India. History of Education Studies in Britain. Cross-Cultural Approaches in disability Studies and Inclusive Education

4. The Institute of Education, London
We have been around since 1902 when we opened as the London Day Training College. For much of the period from the late 1940s to the present we have specialised in teaching post-graduate students at Master and Doctorate levels. We offer a very wide range of opportunities for post-graduates in the field of education studies. We have become a global university through expanding links with institutions around the world & the internationalisation of student body. In the past two years we have received 75 applications to pursue M.A. level courses from Korean students a jump from an average of 55 for 2011 and 12. most of these students are women.

5. One notion of distance learning!
Oakham School, Leicestershire, England. Many Korean students are sent great distances to countries such as Britain to attend schools such as Oakham. Although the study-regime at such schools is fairly intensive it is mixed with a lot of social and recreational time. Passing examinations is one thing but educating the whole person is seen as the most important objective.

6. A Korean sub-industry based in London
I realise that this use of the term ‘distance’ is not the way that your faculty applies it. However, it is an example of how location and transference can be crucial factors structuring educational experience and opportunity.

7. Learning away from school and college
Learning away from school and college. A form of socially accepted child abuse?
Intensive cramming classes after school hours for passing the English test, Seoul, Korea. Very few students who learn English in this way are able to actually use the language in any meaningful way. Do forms of distance learning involving real life and real time interactions offer something more relevant?

8. A Recent Korean example of inclusivity through distance learning.
Reading forum for challenged people National Library of Korea Using the resources of the digitised library participants wrote a book review. They then sent this in for judging and many were invited to meet well known writers. The program was joined by 123 people (87 visually impaired, 26 hearing-impaired and 10 physically challenged) over a 12 weeks-course in ten institutions between June and September. This type of widespread community initiative happens in many locations simultaneously and generates a sense of belonging to a movement, an event, a group.

9. Separation & Segregation. A living hell.
Magdalen Asylum at the end of the 19th century. Young girls and women locked away and enduring hard labour all their lives. Most never managed to escape so spent their entire lives living and working within the asylum walls. Many were highly intelligent but because of some perceived deficiency they were described as ‘sub-normal’ and deprived of mainstream schooling. Many actually became insane because of being in such places.

10. A foundational document of relevance to everyone currently working in education.

11. Korea is a leading signatory of the convention
North Korea(DPR) and the Pacific Islands that fall under US political influence have not become signatories. Islands under Australian/New Zealand influence have signed and ratified.

12. Challenging existing terminology in order to change the mindset.
Here the term ‘differently abled” is being used. This group bases its work on the principled contained within the CRPD passed by the U.N. in 2006 to which Korea is a signatory.
Maybe in our discussion later we can try to discuss terminology across languages

13. The potential for Institutes of Distance Learning
1. Distance learning institutes could become centres of expertise in supporting people affected by various conditions. 2. They could become centres for training and thus build up the capacity to respond positively to unmet needs amongst those thus affected. 3. Advanced communications technology can also provide solutions for many who would find operating in schools and colleges challenging. 4. Distance learning institutes offer maximum flexibility and investments in types of facility can be replicated in ways that physical adaptation can’t be.

14. Using sophisticated technology to support persons who would otherwise be disabled
Stephen Hawking is one of the worlds’ foremost theoretical physicists and professor of cosmology at Cambridge. He is affected by a motor neuron disease related to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis a condition that has progressed over the years. He is almost entirely paralysed and communicates through a speech generating device

15. Distance Learning 1813 Style. A proud tradition of widening access.
We should be confident that work in distance learning is rooted in a long and impressive tradition. We are not some new fashioned experiment operating on the fringes of the mainstream.
Throughout its history various forms of distance learning have always been about widening access and making higher education more inclusive

16. Open Learning, Open Access, Open Knowledge, Free Society.