PLoS ONE (Jan 2023)

Inclusion in the university: Who assumes responsibility? A qualitative study.

  • María José Solis-Grant,
  • María José Bretti-López,
  • Camila Espinoza-Parçet,
  • Cristhian Pérez-Villalobos,
  • Iván Rodríguez-Núñez,
  • Cristian Pincheira-Martínez,
  • Cristóbal Sepúlveda-Carrasco

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0280161
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 18, no. 1
p. e0280161

Abstract

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Society challenges higher education institutions and their members to generate inclusive communities to enable the full development of all members. This study aims to analyze who is responsible for generating inclusion according to community members from a traditional Chilean University. We carried out qualitative research based on the Grounded Theory. We collected data through focus group and semi-structured Interviews, involving 14 undergraduate students, two post-graduate students, 17 faculty members, five non-teaching staff members, and nine executives officers. All of thembelonging to the three campuses of the University. We analyzed data using ATLAS.ti 7.5.7, using the constant comparison method and reaching an axial codification level. From the data analysis, 25 subcategories emerged, grouped into six categories. Later we organized them under the codification paradigm. Results highlighted the perception of the interaction and influence of the social, institutional, and personal fields in the inclusion phenomenon. Also, that inclusive practices must be a responsibility shared among different educational community members.