ADCET Universal Design for Learning Awards

Sponsored by the Australian Centre for Student Equity and Success

ADCET is proud to announce the inaugural ADCET Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Awards, to be presented at the UDL Symposium 2026: From Ideas to Impact: Sharing, Engaging, and Co-Designing Practice.

The Awards recognise people working across the tertiary sector who have made outstanding contributions by advancing the adoption and application of UDL

The Awards are made possible through the generous sponsorship of the Australian Centre for Student Equity and Success (ACSES). Two recipients will each receive $1,500 to support their ongoing professional development and leadership capability building UDL.

ADCET UDL Leadership Award

This Award recognises an individual who has demonstrated sustained and inspiring leadership in championing Universal Design for Learning within their institution or across the tertiary education sector. The recipient will have influenced culture, policy, or systemic practice in ways that advance inclusive education for people with disability and all learners.

ADCET UDL Impact Award

This Award recognises individuals whose work in Universal Design for Learning has resulted in a demonstrable, meaningful impact on the experience and outcomes of learners. The recipient will have applied UDL principles in innovative, evidence informed ways that have made a tangible difference to student engagement, accessibility, or success.

Both self nominations and nominations by colleagues or peers are welcome.

ADCET UDL Leadership Award

Criterion	What We Are Looking For
Vision and Advocacy	Evidence of sustained advocacy for UDL at an institutional, sectoral, or national level, including influence on policy, strategy, or culture.
Collaboration and Partnership	Demonstrated ability to bring together diverse stakeholders including people with disability, educators, and institutional leaders to advance UDL.
Enabling Others	Evidence of mentoring, capacity building, or professional learning initiatives that have grown UDL practice across a team, institution, or network.
Systemic Influence	Contribution to institution wide approaches, frameworks, or initiatives that have embedded UDL as standard practice.

ADCET UDL Impact Award

Criterion	What We Are Looking For
Student-Centered Practice	Clear evidence that UDL principles have been applied in ways that center student perspectives.
Measurable Outcomes	Demonstrable improvement in learner engagement, accessibility, inclusion, or success as a direct result of the nominated work.
Innovation	Creative and context application of UDL that goes beyond compliance to genuinely transform the learner experience.
Evidence of Impact	Qualitative and/or quantitative evidence, including student feedback, data, case studies, or peer recognition, that supports the claim of impact.

Each Award recipient will receive:

$1,500 to support professional development and leadership capability building in UDL
Public recognition at the UDL Symposium 2026 Awards presentation
Promotion of their work through ADCET and ACSES communications channels, including websites, newsletters, and social media
A certificate of recognition from ADCET and ACSES

Nominations are now open

Nominations close: Monday 1 June 2026

Awards presented at the ADCET UDL symposium Friday 26June 2026

Nominate now for the ADCET UDL Award

Key dates

Abstract submissions are now closed

Registrations close
Early bird in-person: Monday, 4 May 2026. After this date, standard registration fees will apply.
Standard In-person: Wednesday 17 June 2026 5:00 pm AEST
Online: Friday 19 June 2026 5:00 pm AEST