There are journeys that begin long before departure and which, for some students, end before they have even begun. On 8 October 2026, in Istanbul, the Inclusion+ project: Tackling the challenges of Erasmus+ mobility, inclusion and diversity at higher education level (2023-1-PT01-KA220-HED-000160391. Funded by the European Union) brought together more than forty researchers, policy-makers and higher education professionals at Galatasaray University to conclude a journey dedicated to one question: what needs to change so that international mobility ceases to be a privilege?
The answer also lay in technology. Orestis Papakyriakopoulos, Professor of Societal Computing at the TUM School of Social Sciences and Technology (Technical University of Munich), was the guest speaker, delivering a session entitled “Accessibility by Design: Building Ethical AI for More Inclusive Education”. Moving between algorithms and classrooms, the speaker argued that inclusion is not something added at the end of the process: it is designed from the outset, responsibly and with people at the centre.
A transformative experience, but only for some?
For many, Erasmus+ is a transformative experience. But not everyone starts from the same point. Students with disabilities and students with care responsibilities continue to face structural barriers that are rarely mentioned in promotional leaflets, and which mean that mobility is a promise that is not always fulfilled.
Led by CIES-Iscte, the Inclusion+ project was developed in partnership with institutions from four countries: the Centre for Educational Research and Intervention at the Faculty of
Psychology and Educational Sciences at the University of Porto (FPCEUP), also in Portugal; the University of Turku (Turun yliopisto) in Finland; Vilnius University (Vilniaus universitetas) in Lithuania; and Galatasaray University in Turkey, the host of this conference. On behalf of CIES-Iscte, the team was led by Thais França, Project Co-ordinator, and comprised the researchers Cosmin Nada, Bianca Lyrio, Helena Schimitz and Liliana Azevedo. Taking a holistic, collaborative approach that is mindful of cultural diversity, the project was based on a firm belief: providing a warm welcome is a responsibility shared between the university and the host city.
Giving a voice to those who are rarely heard
Before any solutions could be found, there was a need to understand. The Storytelling Report gives a face and a voice to students who are rarely seen in mobility policies, asking who they are and what they need. At the same time, the online inventory of good practices brings together initiatives from institutions that have already demonstrated that it is possible to do things differently, with innovative and replicable approaches that can inspire others.
After listening, the project brought together around the same table people who rarely meet: students, universities, NGOs and policy-makers. The ‘Master Collaborative Laboratory’ summary report brings together the ideas and concrete recommendations from this transnational laboratory, whilst the guidelines for facilitating collaborative laboratories serve as a handbook for anyone wishing to replicate the method, incorporating the lessons learnt along the way.
From evidence to action
It is through its most practical tools that the project becomes an instrument of change. The Scenario Roadmap translates evidence into concrete recommendations for higher education institutions and host cities, whilst the inclusion checklist transforms these guidelines into steps that any team can follow. They address both sides of the mobility experience: for institutions, they propose a form of inclusion that begins with communication and representation and extends to counselling, funding, academic flexibility, accommodation and campus life; for cities, they call for multilingual and accessible information, transparent transport and housing, support for families, and cultural and sporting activities open to all. And there was also scope for digital innovation. The mobile app prototype, also available on Figma, was designed using user-centred design methods to help students with disabilities navigate their host cities more easily, and conceived as a modular and scalable foundation for future initiatives.
The prototype checklist serves as a step-by-step guide, explaining how the design process can be adapted to other contexts and countries.
Tools to continue the journey
More than just a closing event, the Istanbul conference has left a legacy. Inclusion+ demonstrates that truly accessible mobility requires coordination between universities and cities, and that the best solutions emerge when they are co-created with students and the local stakeholders who experience them on a daily basis.
All the materials developed are available to view and download at inclusion.iscte-iul.pt.
