Innovation often starts with a simple idea and the right people to make it happen. Carlotta Pisano, Higher Education Officer at the International Mobility Management Unit (DAEDI-UGMI), discusses how the Ideas Club evolved into the IDEAS Project and what this journey reveals about the power of collaboration, mobility and student-driven initiatives within EUTOPIA.
1. The IDEAS project builds on the experience of the Ideas Club, which you first developed at NOVA in 2020. How did this initiative evolve into a European Erasmus+ partnership?
The Ideas Club was originally designed to support international students in navigating intercultural challenges and developing a stronger sense of belonging in higher education. Through structured dialogue and reflection, students were encouraged to explore European values alongside their own cultural perspectives, fostering critical thinking, mutual understanding, and meaningful intercultural exchanges.
The positive results achieved at NOVA led to the model being piloted at other European universities, including the University of Gothenburg, CY Cergy Paris Université, and Ca’ Foscari University of Venice. These experiences demonstrated the potential of the approach to promote inclusion and intercultural dialogue across different contexts. Building on this success, the IDEAS project was created as an Erasmus+ Cooperation Partnership to develop a structured training programme that would enable instructors across Europe to apply the methodology effectively and consistently.
2. What makes the IDEAS approach different from other initiatives focused on inclusion and diversity in higher education?
The IDEAS approach places dialogue at the centre of the learning experience. Rather than focusing solely on policy frameworks or awareness-raising activities, it equips instructors with practical tools to facilitate meaningful discussions among students from diverse backgrounds.
A key aspect of the project is helping educators identify unconscious biases, manage intercultural communication challenges, and create inclusive, discussion-based learning environments. By combining theoretical knowledge with practical pedagogical strategies, IDEAS supports both the academic and social integration of international students while fostering a culture of inclusion within higher education institutions.
3. How does the project contribute to the EUTOPIA Alliance and to the future of European higher education?
IDEAS is closely aligned with the EUTOPIA Alliance’s priorities of educational innovation, inclusion, internationalisation, and inter-university collaboration. By bringing together partners from Portugal, France, and Sweden, the project benefits from different historical and socio-political perspectives on diversity and non-discrimination, allowing for the development of a methodology that is both evidence-based and adaptable to different institutional contexts.
The project provides a replicable model that can be implemented across the EUTOPIA network and beyond. Ultimately, it contributes to the development of more inclusive, student-centred European universities, where dialogue, mutual understanding, and diversity are recognised as essential components of academic excellence.
