Abstract:

The involvement of members of socially and economically excluded groups in joint inclusive activities leads to various effects.

Various research groups are investigating such effects. For example, economic effects of described phenomenon has been studied by McKinsey and they have been considered promising. However we can witness the difficulty of changing stereotypes and including people to common interaction, thus it is necessary to develop new approaches, diminish individual resistance and found new contexts. The article presents case-study, depicting the process of standard designing for inclusive academic conference, which was conducted by an international group of experts in the field of inclusion in 2020. During the development of standard for inclusive academic conference, which is aimed to include and integrate people from different socially and economically excluded groups, we have faced 4 problems, which were discovered hence trying to combine designs of academic conference and inclusive event, taking into consideration interaction between different people with their own background, abilities and needs. Nevertheless, we have managed to reconsider discovered problems as profits which can be obtained if using our design in the preparation and execution process of academic forums and conferences.

In order to make use of mentioned opportunities, we have established 5 tasks and a set of efficiency criteria. Authors used measurability principle, which means that we looked for indicators that can be expressed via sensory terms. It was done for purposes of recognizing, which opportunities were realized, which tasks were fulfilled, and which efficiency criterion was helpful in creating a field for inclusive interaction while conducting the conference. The standard is presented by a set of tasks and efficiency criterion for each one. This experience may be valuable for communities, aimed to include members of socially and economically excluded groups to process of development of civil society as well as for designing events and projects focused on increasing economic activity and independence, and innovative educational programs, which goal is to create the environment for revelation of hidden talents (extrability). As an achievement we perceive using these principles for preparing educational programs in a hybrid format, facing the conditions of the pandemic.

Keywords:

Case-study, inclusion, inclusive culture, extrability, inclusive interaction, inclusive academic conference, academic conference design.