Inclusive Higher Education for Students with Disabilities in China: What Do the University Teachers Think?

Abstract

Inclusive higher education is a path to protect the educational rights of university students with disabilities. University teachers’ attitudes toward students with disabilities, and towards their inclusion in universities, are a key factor that will affect the development of inclusive higher education. This study used a questionnaire to explore an overall perspective of how university teachers in China view inclusive higher education from emotional, cognitional and conative aspects. Their responses suggest that university teachers in China have positive emotion and cognition toward the rights of students with disabilities to receive higher education; the teachers do, however, appear to lack motivation, relevant knowledge, skills, and effective strategies to cope with the students’ special needs. This suggests that effective implementation of inclusive higher education must be supported by an effective service center for those who have disabilities, a support network of professionals, and an administrative support system for teachers and students.