On 2 December, Válida sin Barreras renewed its commitment to the UIC Barcelona School of Architecture's Postgraduate Degree in Accessibility and Design for All, the 6th edition of which began in October. Present at the signing of the agreement were Albert Vila, marketing director of Válida sin Barreras, the Rector of UIC Barcelona, Dr Xavier Gil, and the director of the postgraduate degree, architect Enrique Rovira-Beleta.

This postgraduate programme is the first formal academic initiative to take a global and cross-cutting approach to accessibility. Whereas accessibility requirements differ by country, this programme plays a vital role in making Design for All universal and versatile.

This course is an opportunity to discover "what people with disabilities are capable of" and see that "accessibility is not just a necessity for people with disabilities, but something that benefits everyone", maintains the director, Rovira-Beleta. It is also a step towards making cities, buildings, houses, means of transport and communication systems comfortable and safe for everyone, particularly for those whose mobility or communication are reduced, yet with a standard design for everyone.

The programme combines theory and practice and its work sessions are virtual and interactive (online). As a result, students may follow it from anywhere in the world and the professors are based in various countries. This postgraduate degree is taught by recognised professionals in a number of industry fields and Design for All, as well as representatives from organisations for people with disabilities and institutions that provide universal accessibility services.