On March 25 this year, a mixed group of stakeholders gathered in Brussels for the final conference of the Erasmus+ project ‘PLAR-U-PAGs’, Peer Learning Activities and Resources to Underpin the Principles and Guidelines for Social Dimension.
The aim of this project was to support higher education institutions as well as public authorities in the implementation of the Principles and Guidelines to Strengthen the Social Dimension of Higher Education in the EHEA. The project also supported the work of the BFUG Working Group on Social Dimension.
The Flemish Ministry of Education and Training hosted the conference, and felt privileged to welcome so many participants from both within and outside the European Union, bringing a rich diversity of perspectives and experiences. The audience was a diverse group, including students, representatives from higher education institutions, Ministries of Education, and organisations dedicated to advancing higher education. The geographical diversity enhanced the ability to learn from each other and address the challenges and opportunities in making higher education as inclusive as possible across the entire European Higher Education Area. The presence of all these participants underscored the collective commitment to further implement the Principles and Guidelines on Social Dimension.
The conference highlighted the importance of the social dimension in education. Higher education extends beyond academic success; it encompasses social inclusion and equal opportunities. Ensuring access to education for all groups, including disadvantaged, vulnerable, and disabled students, is essential for fostering a just society.
The project consortium, consisting of the Flemish and Croatian Ministries of Education and Training, the Support Centre for Inclusive Higher Education (SIHO, Flanders), the European Students’ Union (ESU), and the Institute for the Development of Education (IDE, Zagreb) presented the project outcomes and tools that were developed.
Since peer learning was at the heart of the project, leading to the organisation of four Peer Learning Activities. Through collaborative activities, participants exchanged knowledge, best practices, and experiences, thereby enhancing collective understanding and capabilities. The first PLA took place in Zagreb, followed by two in Belgium, and one conducted online.
As part of the project, a comprehensive toolkit on the Principles and Guidelines was developed. This toolkit aligns with the indicators and descriptors provided by the BFUG Working Group on the Social Dimension. It includes four key instruments: an easy-to-navigate framework that explains each Principle along with corresponding guidelines and indicators, a self-assessment tool, and two manuals (one for public authorities and one for Higher Education Institutions). These resources enable national authorities and higher education institutions to evaluate their current practices against the indicators and receive guidance on improvement actions.
Another significant tool developed within the project is the Scholarship Portal, created by the Institute for the Development of Education (IDE) in Zagreb. This innovative platform is designed to assist users in exploring scholarship opportunities for higher education across all 47 countries of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). For more information, please check this article.
During the conference, two workshops were organised where SIHO and IDE presented these instruments and provided detailed information about the tools and project results.
Read more about the conference:
More information on the PLA’s:
📍 https://www.inclusivehighereducation.eu/peer-learning-activities-0
Check out the PAGs toolkit with framework, self-assessment tool, and manuals:
📍 https://www.inclusivehighereducation.eu/pags-toolkit-0
Consult the developed scholarship website: