The project Bridge is co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the Servicio Espanol para la Internacionalizacion de la Educacion (SEPIE). Neither the European Union nor the National Agency SEPIE can be held responsible for them. -- Number: 2025-1-ES01-KA220-HED-000359236 --

The BRIDGE Digital Museum brings together good practices, educational proposals and images that inspire reflection and action

Social Challenges Analyse social challenges to intercultural dialogue, social inclusion and democratic cohesion Good Practices Discover experiences that generate social impact Educational Space Access teaching guides, activities and materials for the classroom Documentary Photography Explore the social challenges in a visual, reflective and educational way

LEVEL 1. InclusiPHE: Inclusive Student Engagement

BRIDGE Main Challenge: A.6. Deficits in democratic participation, representation and inclusive governance

What problem does it address?

Non-traditional students in Professional Higher Education (PHE) face structural barriers that limit their effective participation in student representation, quality assurance and institutional decision-making. This lack of representation weakens democratic governance and contributes to perpetuating inequalities of opportunity in European higher education institutions.

What does it propose?

InclusiPHE proposes a transnational, collaborative framework for developing self-assessment tools, strategic guidelines and online training resources. The initiative provides institutions and student organisations with tools to review and improve their governance mechanisms, promoting active, meaningful and inclusive participation by non-traditional students in Professional Higher Education.

Why is it an inspiring practice?
  • It positions non-traditional students as active agents of institutional change.
  • It combines empirical needs assessment, self-assessment and open training resources.
  • It fosters a transnational partnership between universities, European networks and student organisations.
  • It integrates student participation as a central dimension of quality in higher education.
Resources you'll find
  • Needs assessment report on the participation of non-traditional students.
  • Compendium of good practices and recommendations for inclusive student participation.
  • Digital self-assessment tool for inclusive participation.
  • Guidelines for designing institutional action plans.
  • Online training course and toolkit for student support staff.
Featured results
5
Countries participating in the InclusiPHE European consortium: Spain, Belgium, Croatia, Malta and Germany.
4
Groups of outputs developed: needs assessment, identification of good practices and recommendations, institutional improvement tools and training resources.
1
Digital self-assessment tool designed to review inclusive participation mechanisms in Professional Higher Education institutions and student organisations.
1
Guide providing guidelines for designing institutional action plans aimed at improving inclusion and student participation.
1
Online training course for student support staff to strengthen their capacity to support non-traditional students.
What can visitors learn?
How to identify and remove barriers to student participation.
How to use self-assessment tools to promote inclusive university governance.
How to design student-led strategies for institutional transformation.
How to train support staff to foster inclusive academic environments.

LEVEL 2. EXPLORE BEST PRACTICE

Introduction

InclusiPHE is an Erasmus+ project that promotes the inclusive participation of non-traditional students in European Professional Higher Education. Through a participatory co-creation methodology, the project develops self-assessment tools, strategic action guidelines and online training modules designed to facilitate the review and improvement of institutional governance mechanisms and strengthen the social dimension of higher education.

  • Coordinating organisation: Mondragon University (Spain)
  • Participating countries: Belgium (BE), Croatia (HR), Germany (DE), Malta (MT), Spain (ES)
  • Duration: September 2020 - August 2023
  • BRIDGE Main Challenge: A.6. Deficits in democratic participation, representation and inclusive governance
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
  • SDG 4: Quality Education
  • SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
  • SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
  • SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
Secondary Challenges
  • A.1. Structural and intersectional inequalities that shape inclusion and social cohesion
  • A.2. Gap between regulatory frameworks, institutional discourses and actual inclusion practices

The Challenge

What social issue does it address?

University representation and governance structures may reproduce dynamics that exclude non-traditional students, including working adults, students with caring responsibilities and those from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. This under-representation limits their ability to influence processes relating to educational quality and contributes to maintaining existing gaps in the social dimension of Professional Higher Education.

Why is it important?

Ensuring active student participation in institutional governance and quality assurance processes helps strengthen democratic cohesion, a sense of belonging and equity in the European Higher Education Area.

How does it contribute to the BRIDGE Challenge?

InclusiPHE contributes to Challenge A.6 by developing tools and guidance that enable Professional Higher Education institutions and student organisations to review their representation and governance mechanisms. It promotes strategies for moving towards more effective, equitable and inclusive participation by non-traditional students.

How does it work?

The project is implemented in four phases: 1) Analysis of student participation patterns; 2) Compilation of European good practices; 3) Collaborative design of student-led strategies for institutional transformation; and 4) Development and piloting of self-assessment tools, guidelines and online training courses for institutions and support staff.

What might inspire you?
Ideas for adaptation
  1. Promote student-led governance strategies in higher education institutions.
  2. Use digital self-assessment tools to measure levels of institutional inclusión.
  3. Train student support staff to respond to the needs of non-traditional students.
  4. Integrate student participation as a central indicator of higher education quality.
  5. Design evidence-based institutional action plans for democratic participation.
  6. Strengthen networks between universities, student organisations and European partners.
  7. Foster equitable representation in academic decision-making bodies.
Resources created

Needs assessment report.

Digital publication

A diagnostic research report analysing existing participation models, structural barriers and the participation needs of non-traditional students in European Professional Higher Education.

Students, Researchers, Professionals, Policy Makers

https://inclusiphe.eu/mapping-report/

Compendium of good practices and policy recommendations.

Digital publication

A collection of case studies on inclusive participation, accompanied by guidelines and strategic guidance for higher education institutions.

Students, Researchers, Professionals, Policy Makers

https://inclusiphe.eu/good-practises/

Digital self-assessment tool for inclusive governance.

Interactive digital resource

An interactive digital tool that enables institutions and student organisations to assess and improve their inclusion and participation mechanisms.

Students, Researchers, Professionals, Policy Makers

https://inclusiphe.eu/assesst_fpage/

Guidelines for institutional action plans on inclusion.

Manual

A step-by-step methodological guide to designing, implementing and monitoring institutional action plans aimed at strengthening democratic participation.

Students, Researchers, Professionals, Policy Makers

https://inclusiphe.eu/inclusiphe-guide/

Online training course and toolkit.

Online training

An e-learning programme and resource library for student support staff, designed to strengthen their skills and promote inclusive guidance.

https://inclusiphe.academy.knowledgeinnovation.eu/courses/inclusiphe/