Bevica Scholarship Programme Wins International Award and Recognition

Bevica Fonden is the recipient of a Gold Award in connection with the 2025 IAUD Design Award for its Bevica Scholarship Programme, which aims to strengthen the research environment and generate new, interdisciplinary knowledge on universal design in Denmark.

The IAUD Design Award is presented by the International Association for Universal Design (IAUD), an organisation actively working to creating a society in which more people will feel comfortable to live. Based in Japan, IAUD has organised the international conference International Conferences for Universal Design since 2002.

That the recognition comes from such a prominent organisation carries particular significance for Camilla Ryhl, Research Director at Bevica Fonden. She has worked professionally with universal design for more than 25 years and regards IAUD as a leading light in the field.

“I have followed IAUD throughout my entire career, from the first conference in 2002. The organisation and the work it represents are a beacon within universal design. For the Bevica Scholarship Programme to receive its Gold Award this year is recognition of the highest order, and one I am immensely proud of.”

Bringing Knowledge Back to Denmark

Camilla Ryhl joined Bevica Fonden after many years in academia, where she established herself as a leading expert in universal design both in Denmark and internationally. In 2020, she helped launch Bevica Fonden’s Universal Design Hub and, as Research Director, later assumed responsibility for leading the Bevica Scholarship Programme, which was first introduced in 2023.

The programme forms a key element of Bevica Fonden’s strategic efforts to create an attractive research and educational environment for universal design in Denmark.

Through an intensive knowledge- and idea-development programme, participants gain a thorough understanding of the concept of universal design and receive guidance on how to apply it within their specific disciplines. The objective is for participants to deepen their insight into universal design and develop new knowledge that can help steer society in a more sustainable direction – one in which more people have the opportunity to live good and fulfilling lives.

The programme is interdisciplinary in scope. When participants win an award for their idea, the funding is used to travel abroad to acquire new knowledge on universal design and bring it back to Denmark.

Since its inception, the programme has awarded travel grants and main prizes to more than 45 recipients. Over 250 students and lecturers have taken part, covering themes within culture, fashion, AI, education, pedagogy, architecture, design, crisis management, climate, and more.

If you would like to learn more about the programme and view the award recipients, please visit: https://www.bevicafonden.dk/scholarship-programme

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