Interdisciplinary PhD Course on Universal Design

Welcome to Interdisciplinary PhD Course on Universal Design

Description:

The purpose of the PhD course is to increase awareness and understanding of the concept of universal design among future researchers who work with projects related to social sustainability, anti-discrimination and the UN's cross-cutting agenda Leave No-one Behind.

This interdisciplinary and cross-institutional PhD course on universal design will introduce PhD students to the diverse research in universal design or anti-discrimination in the fields of design of services, IT, products and the build environment and contribute to improving the PhD students' insight into the diverse approaches and methods for inclusion.

The course will include:

• Professional development within Universal Design conceptual understanding and definition
• The theoretical basis used in the various professional areas
• User perspectives that are used in the various professional areas 
• Research methodological approaches to the fields, both quantitative and qualitative methods.
• Presentation of research projects working within the field of universal design and Leave No-one Behind

The course has three levels: 

• First, it offers an operational framing of theories and concepts from the humanities, social sciences, and critical design thinking. 
• Secondly, these are illustrated on cases drawn from the research of the lecturers. 
• Thirdly, the course requires participants to present their research projects within the framing of universal design/anti-discrimination and will be given detailed feedback from the lecturers.
• As preparation, the participants are asked to write a paper that positions their research theoretically and methodically within the field of universal design.

The course consists of: 

• Day 1: Seminar with lectures and debates, where all the lectures are involved.
• Day 2: Study circle with presentations by the students of texts representing interdisciplinarity of the lecturers and discussions of themes and texts in plenum.
• Day 3: Seminar with presentation of papers by the Ph.D.-students, with peer discussion among the participants and teachers.

Learning objectives: 

Overview of research fields related to universal design, equity, inclusion and social sustainability.

Insight into theoretical and methodological approaches to research within the field

Prerequisites:

Doing research in engineering, architecture, IT design, service design, sociology, landscape architecture

Working on a PhD project that includes perspectives on social sustainability, equity, inclusion or universal design

Basic insight into methodological considerations (quantitative and qualitative)

Form of evaluation: 

• Attendance and participation in all activities  
• Submission of a paper, that positions their research and reflects the discussions on theory and methods within the field of universal design

Organizer:

• Anne Kathrine Frandsen, Associate professor
• Turid Borgestrand Øien, Associate professor

• Anne Kathrine Frandsen, Associate professor/Senior researcher, BUILD AAU 
• Turid Borgestrand Øien, Associate professor, BUILD AAU
• Ulrika Stigsdotter, Professor, Institut for Geovidenskab og Naturforvaltning, KU
• Masashi Kajita, Associate professor, Det Kongelige Akademi

ECTS: 3

Date: 15, 16, 17 April 2026

Place: Aalborg University, Copenhagen

City: Copenhagen

Number of seats: 30

Deadline: 25 March 2026

Important information concerning PhD courses: 

There is a no-show fee of DKK 3,000 for each course where the student does not show up. Cancellations are accepted no later than 2 weeks before the start of the course. Registered illness is of course an acceptable reason for not showing up on those days. Furthermore, all courses open for registration approximately four months before start of the course.

We cannot ensure any seats before the deadline for enrolment, all participants will be informed after the deadline, approximately 3 weeks before the start of the course.

For inquiries regarding registration, cancellation or waiting list, please contact the PhD administration at phdcourses@adm.aau.dk When contacting us please state the course title and course period. Thank you.