How can higher education become truly inclusive? The answer lies not in grand theories but in practical solutions that work across different cultures. For three years, we’ve been part of the IDEA-NET consortium, developing these kinds of solutions.
IDEA-NET is an Erasmus+ inclusion project. Its goal? “Expanding the network of inclusion, diversity, equity and access (IDEA) practitioners in higher education through institutional capacity building.”
This month, the project wraps up, having created resources and a toolkit for expanding IDEA in higher education institutions worldwide.
Real practices from real institutions
The first of the project’s key achievements is its compendium of 60+ IDEA practices. This is the most viewed resource on the project website. These aren’t just theories; they’re real case studies from 28 countries across six global regions.
Each case study offers a reflective look at how institutions have addressed IDEA challenges. They reveal what motivated these practices, how they’re organised, which policies support them, and how institutions tackle sustainability issues.
Working with consortium partners, we helped create and moderate the LinkedIn Group “An alliED network for inclusion in education”. This community became a vital space for sharing the use cases and other resources. It became also a forum to challenge assumptions about how IDEA initiatives can succeed amid changing political and economic climates.
A step-by-step guide that works
University College Dublin, supported by the University of Zadar, led the development of the guideline toolkit for setting up an IDEA office. We contributed our expertise in making complex processes accessible across different cultural contexts.
The toolkit breaks down what can seem like an overwhelming task into nine manageable steps:
- Identify need and underrepresented groups
- Map inclusion activities across student and employee lifecycles
- Establish clear principles
- Identify governance structures for success
- Map key stakeholders
- Source funding and resources
- Design optimal IDEA structures
- Develop impact measurement systems
- Engage students and staff as true partners
What sets this resource apart? It doesn’t shy away from difficult realities. The toolkit addresses how to handle conservative opposition, secure leadership buy-in, and when incremental approaches might prove more sustainable than radical change.
Learning through doing: capacity building that brings people together
The five-module capacity building tool represents another practical breakthrough. The modules provide practical resources for faculty, staff, students and leadership Led by the Center for Diversity Policy (ECHO) in the Netherlands, with support from Erasmus University Rotterdam, this resource transforms complex IDEA concepts into actionable workshop activities.
The modules cover:
- IDEA Concepts and Frameworks
- Creating safe, brave and accountable spaces
- Recognising microaggressions and being an active bystander
- Inclusive Curriculum and Pedagogy
- Next Steps for IDEA at Your Institution
We made sure these modules work in different national, regional, and institutional settings. The tool was tested in person at universities in Belgrade, Ljubljana, and Zadar. Then, it was improved for online use.
Our approach: making change sustainable
At KIC, we don’t just deliver project outputs — we help create resources that institutions can actually use and adapt. Our contribution to IDEA-net focused on:
- Cross-cultural adaptability: ensuring tools work across different educational systems and cultural contexts
- Practical application: turning research insights into step-by-step guidance
- Community building: creating networks that outlast individual projects
- Sustainability planning: helping institutions think beyond initial enthusiasm to long-term change
The IDEA-net project shows what happens when rigorous research meets practical application. We merged our skills in inclusive learning and education innovation with the consortium’s strong knowledge of diversity and inclusion. Together, we created resources that institutions are already using. Our services in communication, outreach, IT consulting, and project management have helped advance IDEA in higher education.
Higher education faces complex inclusion challenges that can’t be solved with one-size-fits-all solutions. Projects like IDEA-net prove that thoughtful, collaborative approaches can create lasting change — one institution, one practice, one conversation at a time.
Interested in how we can support your educational innovation project? Get in touch to discuss your needs.
