Comunidad de Aprendizaje Universitaria para la Inclusión y la No discriminación

Despite regulatory advances in equality and non-discrimination, racism, xenophobia and other forms of intolerance have increased in Europe, exacerbated by recent crises, which have intensified competition for resources and hate speech. Universities, far from being spaces untouched by this reality, continue to reproduce inequalities based on gender, ethnic origin or sexual orientation. The INVITED Project (2019) highlighted the persistence of discrimination based on gender, ethnic origin and sexual orientation in this area, as well as the lack of awareness, training and resources to address diversity. The project's partner organisations recognised the potential of universities to become benchmarks for inclusion and fundamental rights, as promoted by the European Strategy for Universities (2022). However, to achieve this, it is essential to provide the entire university community—students, teaching staff, researchers, and administrative and service personnel—with specific training tools. This project was created precisely to respond to these training needs through objectives and results that promote more just, diverse, and inclusive university environments.

General Objective: To promote the principles of non-discrimination and common European values in the field of higher education, fostering interconnection between universities in different countries and the co-creation of innovative and inclusive content that counteracts the discourse of intolerance facing Europe. Specific objectives: 1 To generate European and national university learning communities on inclusion in order to discuss and design content aimed at training the entire university community. 2 Design, validate and share innovative content through MOOC courses aimed at teaching and research staff and service administrators, as well as undergraduate and postgraduate students, on non-discrimination, cultural and affective-sexual diversity and gender discrimination. Encourage the participation of the university community itself in the design of content with high social externalisation value. 3 Promote inclusive universities through a manual and roadmap to disseminate the experience, model and MOOCs generated, and promote a network of universities that integrate content on human rights, equality and non-discrimination.

The consortium successfully implemented activities to achieve the planned outcomes. It strengthened universities' capacity to create innovative teaching tools on equality, rights, and non-discrimination. A Methodological Guide offers steps to design MOOCs adapted to each university’s needs, covering training gaps, suitable formats, assessment methods, and practical application of diversity skills. Four MOOCs were designed, developed, and validated: (1) Human Rights in and from the University (USAL/OBERAXE); (2) Diversity and Variety in the University Context (Vienna); (3) Building Inclusive Diversity (USAL); and (4) Real Gender Equality at the University (Mykolo Romeris). All are available in English and national languages, validated with at least 20 participants each, and hosted on consortium platforms and helcimoocs.eu. Micro-credentials (1 ECTS) were granted for MOOCs 1 and 4. A methodology based on learning communities (HELCI) fostered transnational and local collaboration. A Manual for Inclusive and Non-Discriminatory Universities, including a dissemination roadmap, was created and presented in each country, sparking the formation of a network and a Transnational Conference to share results