Accessible and Sustainable Digital Services, Computing Sciences and Electrical Engineering

Designing an Inclusive Digital Future

The Accessible and Sustainable Digital Services specialisation equips students to design, develop, and implement accessible digital services and environments for both public and private sectors. The curriculum goes beyond basic web accessibility education, addressing a wide range of societal domains such as culture, media, and game accessibility, as well as the accessibility of emerging technologies including artificial intelligence and virtual reality.

From Policy to Practice

Students are trained not only to meet the requirements of accessibility legislation but also to design services that exceed legal standards. The specialization fosters an understanding of the diverse needs of individuals with and without disabilities, promoting inclusive and human-centered design practices.

Tools and Strategies for Inclusive Design

The courses cover topics such as accessibility legislation and policy, identifying beneficiaries of accessible design, and producing accessible services from multiple perspectives. These include subtitling, accessible communication, sign language, website design, assistive technologies, and adaptive strategies. The studies emphasize ethical and sustainability considerations in the development and application of digital technologies and provide methods for critical and sustainable design practice.

The specialization responds to the growing demand for accessibility expertise in an increasingly digital world. Accessibility should be considered from the outset when planning digital services, but existing services can also be adapted to meet accessibility standards.

A Multidisciplinary Approach to Accessibility

Recognizing that accessibility intersects with all aspects of life, the program adopts a multidisciplinary approach. It acknowledges that accessibility is not only a technical challenge but also a social one, requiring a holistic understanding of the barriers faced by people with disabilities. The program also aims to be genuinely accessible to all eligible students.

Creating Digital Services for Everyone

By focusing on inclusion, accessibility, and sustainability, the specialisation empowers graduates to remove barriers and shape a more equitable digital society.

Study objectives

The Master’s Programme in Computing Sciences and Electrical Engineering, with a specialisation in Accessible and Sustainable Digital Services, focuses on understanding the diversity of digital cultures. 

After completing the degree, graduates will understand the role of digital technologies in society and their ethical, social, accessibility, and sustainability implications. They will be able to critically analyse, design, and evaluate accessible and inclusive digital services, identify accessibility challenges, conduct accessibility testing, and communicate effectively with diverse user groups. Graduates will also understand the needs of people with disabilities, recognize biases related to accessibility, collaborate with stakeholders, and contribute to the development of innovative solutions and emerging practices that support a more inclusive digital society.