E-Inclusion of People with Disabilities in Vocational and Professional Education and Further Training Organisations in Switzerland: First Results of a Quantitative Survey

Abstract

This paper presents first results of the quantitative part of the currently running NRP77 project “E-inclusion of people with disabilities in vocational and professional education and further training in Switzerland” (No.: 197423). In the framework of an explorative online survey, 431 professionals from 289 educational organisations assessed the digitalisation, inclusion of people with disabilities (PwD) and digital accessibility of their organisation and, in particular, of their educational offer. The results allow first conclusions to be drawn about the status quo of e-inclusion in vocational and professional education and further training (VPET) organisations in Switzerland and indicate that the type of organisation has a significant influence on in this regard. PwD in VPET organisations in Switzerland often encounter barriers regarding e-accessibility. Inclusion of PWD in VPET organisations is therefore to be sustainably strengthened. At the methodological level the results of a principal component analysis (CATPCA) suggest that the conceptualisation of e-inclusion along the dimensions of structures, practices and cultures proposed by Booth and Ainscow can be a good starting point for further studies on e-inclusion.