Methodology of designing inclusive educational spaces in universities with multicultural students

Abstract

The present study is devoted to the development of a comprehensive methodology for designing inclusive educational spaces in universities with multicultural students. The concept of inclusivity in modern educational institutions goes beyond creating conditions for people with special educational needs and extends to the integration of cultural diversity as an integral element of the educational ecosystem. Based on the analysis of existing approaches to the organization of educational spaces and the study of the experience of leading universities, a multilevel design model has been developed that takes into account the physical, social, digital and institutional parameters of an inclusive environment. The empirical basis of the study was the survey data of 1,237 students and 328 teachers from 17 Russian and foreign universities, as well as the results of structured observation and expert interviews. The research methodology included comparative analysis, statistical data processing methods, spatial modeling and design methods, ethnographic methods, and expert validation. The results of the study demonstrate a significant correlation between the parameters of inclusivity of educational spaces and indicators of academic achievement (r=0.74), socio-cultural adaptation (r=0.68) and subjective well- being (r=0.71) of students from various cultural groups. The developed methodology makes it possible to optimize the processes of designing and reorganizing university spaces, ensuring a stable balance between universality and cultural conformity of the educational environment.