Assessment of Web Accessibility of University Websites in Bulgaria: A Path Towards Inclusive Higher Education
Assessment of Web Accessibility of University Websites in Bulgaria: A Path Towards Inclusive Higher Education

Summary/Abstract: Digital inclusion has become a central element of contemporary educational and social policy within the European Union. One of its core dimensions is web accessibility – the functionality of websites that allows them to be usable by all users, including people with disabilities. This study aims to evaluate the web accessibility of the homepages of official university websites in Bulgaria. Web accessibility is considered a key component of the right to education and equal access to digital environments, particularly for students with functional limitations. The analysis covers 51 functioning websites of higher education institutions and is based on two widely recognised automated tools – WAVE and TAW – applying the standards of WCAG 2.1. The results indicate that 98% of the websites contain at least one accessibility error. The most common issues are related to insufficient colour contrast, missing alternative text, and inaccessible navigation elements. The findings confirm systemic shortcomings in the implementation of accessibility standards and underscore the need for institutional measures to improve digital inclusion in higher education.

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