LABS FOR CHANGE: Social Innovation Labs for the promotion of equality, diversity and non-discrimination in Higher Education Institutions
Labs for Change Introduction & Goals
The Labs for Change project aims to generate knowledge on gender equality, raise diversity awareness through participatory methods, and establish spaces in HEIs for social innovation to combat discrimination and foster inclusion. In addition, the project aims to create models designed to incorporate gender perspectives into HEIs’ educational practices and address diversity challenges faced in each Institution. Through an interactive online academy, HEI staff and students will be trained in gender-related content, and implement participatory audits to identify discriminatory biases. In addition, the project will implement gender perspective laboratories in each university A global network of HEIs committed to promoting diversity and inclusion will be established. The Pilot Labs4change will act as a co-creating tool to develop solutions to address identified challenges in HEIs and their territories.
What makes Labs4Change especially powerful is its European reach and rich diversity of partners. The project brings together five forward-thinking organisations that each contribute uniquestrengths and contexts:
- Mondragon Unibertsitatea – Faculty of Business Studies (Enpresagintza) (Spain) – A cooperative university and leading innovator in student-centred learning, social entrepreneurship, and organisational transformation. (Project coordinator)
- 2811 (Chile/EU) – A global platform for social and ecological innovation that fosters sustainable development through education, entrepreneurship, and climate action.
- DINAMIA (Spain) – A cooperative research centre dedicated to promoting inclusive and sustainable development through interdisciplinary knowledge and social innovation.
- Technische Universität Dortmund (TUDO)(Germany) – A renowned institution with deep expertise in spatial planning, social transformation, and urban innovation.
- University of Thessaly (Greece) – A dynamic academic hub actively involved in educational reform and engaged learning across disciplines.
Final Thoughts
Through the integration of the gender perspective, diversity and inclusion in educational institutions, the project will contribute to long-term cultural change. This involves the adoption of more inclusive and equitable practices and policies within universities and society at large.
Labs for Change is part of the Erasmus + Cooperation partnerships in higher education initiatives.
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