Inclusive education in universities: practices and problems

It is well known that the quality of life of people with disabilities and those with special needs and their successful professional life and careers are directly related to higher education. A number of developed countries of the world have accumulated positive experience in the implementation of inclusive education. Despite the achievements, the existence of problems in the system of inclusive education makes it difficult for people with disabilities and special needs to obtain a quality higher education and successful employment. The purpose of the article is to study the experience of implementing inclusive education in higher domestic and foreign educational institutions, identify common problems, and ways to eliminate them. The following research methods were used in the study: theoretical analysis, review of scientific literature, method of analysis of educational activities of higher educational institutions in various countries, comparative analysis and interpretation of the results of the work. The article reveals significant factors in the implementation of the ideas of inclusive education on the example of Russian and foreign universities. These factors are the following: creation of a regulatory framework and adequate measures for the successful implementation of the adopted laws into the practice of higher education; organization of social activities in various forms of social, psychological and pedagogical assistance and support for students with disabilities and special needs, including volunteering; removing obstacles for the optimal inclusion of a student with a disability and special needs in various types of youth activities on the university campus; expansion of the capabilities of MOOCs (and other educational platforms) and providing all the necessary conditions for the accessibility of digital education in order to reduce both the economic and social gap between students as well as the gap due to health problems of students with disabilities and special needs. The novelty of the research lies in the following facts: the necessity of theoretical and methodological substantiation of the ways of implementing inclusive education in higher educational institutions is revealed; accessibility to higher education is one of the important factors in improving the quality of life of people with disabilities and special needs; ensuring that digital education is accessible and unobstructed for all students, regardless of their social status and financial situation, especially for students with disabilities and special needs.