| May Edition 02/2026 Inclusive Europe Dear reader, Welcome to May edition of the Inclusive Europe Newsletter, powered by eucen, where we share with you the most recent news in the field of Diversity and Inclusionacross higher and adult education in Europe. This edition explores recent initiatives, policy developments, and collaborative efforts promoting more inclusive and accessible lifelong learning across Europe. From innovative digital education projects to European strategies on inclusion and higher education, the newsletter highlights how universities and organisations are working to strengthen equity, participation, and belonging in learning environments. We invite you to explore this month’s selection of insights, updates, and opportunities. Innovation in Practice |
 Towards more inclusive digital environments: new resources released in Europe The INCLUDE ME+ project has released its final set of resources, marking the successful completion of the project after a period of collaboration, research, and co-creation among its partners. The initiative has produced a comprehensive and accessible collection of practical and transferable tools designed to promote inclusion through mediation and to support more inclusive and participatory digital media practices across Europe. These resources are intended to strengthen the capacity of key stakeholders, including higher education educators, digital media providers, civil society organisations, and students.   New e-zine shares updates and insights on visual teaching in education! The first E-zine from the VISUALITY project has recently been launched. The publication brings together recent activities, insights, and developments related to the use of visual teaching strategies in higher and adult education across Europe. VISUALITY explores how visual approaches can contribute to more inclusive and accessible learning environments for diverse groups of learners. Readers can discover more about the project, its partners, and the ongoing work being carried out to support inclusive teaching and learning practices. Feel free to share it with colleagues and networks interested in inclusive teaching and learning practices.   Exploring belonging in higher education: staff perspectives matter A sense of belonging in higher education is shaped not only by institutional policies, but also by everyday experiences — through teaching, communication, leadership, and the many interactions that define university life. To better understand how belonging is experienced within universities, the BELONG@HEI project is inviting higher education staff to take part in a short anonymous survey. The survey explores what helps people feel included, respected, and supported in their working and learning environments. The insights gathered will contribute to ongoing work on inclusive and student-centred approaches in higher education across Europe, helping identify practical ways universities can strengthen belonging in everyday practice. The questionnaire takes only around five minutes to complete! Your perspective matters.   Exploring belonging in higher education: staff perspectives matter Across Europe, adult education providers continue to search for new ways to reach learners who are often excluded from traditional educational pathways. The FOOD INCLUDES project offers one example of how everyday experiences — such as cooking and sharing food — can become meaningful tools for inclusion, participation, and skills development. The initiative explores how food-centred activities can help create more accessible and flexible learning opportunities, particularly for vulnerable groups such as refugees, migrants, and people affected by social or economic barriers. At a time when millions of displaced people are rebuilding their lives across Europe, projects that combine community engagement with educational outreach are becoming increasingly relevant. Discover the principles behind this new approach to inclusion, with food as its starting point.  Policy & Europe  What are the key European initiatives for inclusion in University Lifelong Learning? Inclusion has become a central priority in European education and skills policy, reflecting a broader commitment to building more equitable, resilient, and knowledge-driven societies. Within this context, universities are increasingly recognised not only as centres of research and formal education, but also as key actors in widening access to learning across the lifespan. At the European level, several ongoing policy initiatives reinforce these goals.These initiatives aim to strengthen lifelong learning systems, improve access for underrepresented groups, and ensure that higher education institutions contribute effectively to social inclusion. They also emphasise the importance of upskilling and reskilling in response to rapid technological and economic change, ensuring that learners of all ages can adapt and thrive. For the ULLL community, these developments signal a clear direction: lifelong learning is no longer a peripheral mission of universities, but a core component of their societal role. Explore our full policy update to learn more about the latest developments and their implications.   What is the EU doing to make higher education more inclusive and connected? The European Union is working to make higher education across Europe more inclusive, accessible, and closely linked to society as part of the European Education Area. The goal is to ensure that universities support learners from all backgrounds and contribute to lifelong learning opportunities. A key priority is widening participation, especially for underrepresented groups such as students from disadvantaged backgrounds, adult learners, and people with migrant backgrounds. This includes improving access routes, strengthening student support, and promoting more flexible study options. The EU also encourages more flexible learning pathways, including part-time and online study, as well as better recognition of prior learning. These measures help people combine education with work and other responsibilities, supporting lifelong learning. In addition, higher education institutions are encouraged to strengthen links with schools, vocational education, employers, and communities to ensure learning is relevant and inclusive.  |
