Towards a software-enabled environment promoting accessible learning in higher education

Abstract

This paper introduces the vision guiding the development of a software-enabled environment aiming to help the communities that cannot easily have access to and be part of the higher education system. These communities are not only people with the more obvious accessibility problems but it may also include Indians (with communication/cultural problems to enter and perform well in universities made by and to white people) and other groups. The software-enabled environment previously mentioned, named Empodera, is a small part of a bigger infrastructure called CADEP, which represents the main goal pursued by the ACACIA project. ACACIA motivations are briefly introduced in this paper; the CADEP is presented, followed by a more deep discussion about Empodera. The CADEP, as a whole, is to be assessed in 3 countries of Latin America (LA), but Empodera will also have specific evaluations in the Amazon area in Brazil, involving community of Indians who want to be or are already students at the Federal University of Western Pará (UFOPA). This evaluation, some conclusions and future challenges close the paper.