Building more inclusive universities: a new online training from NeurotechEU
NeurotechEU, the European University alliance that KI is part of, is launching a new self-paced online training on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) to help students, educators and support staff in intentionally designing more inclusive higher education learning environments.
How do we foster higher education environments where everyone feels included and is able to succeed? This question lies at the center of a new online training focused on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) developed within NeurotechEU – the European University of Brain and Technology.
The self‑paced materials are designed for students, educators and support staff across the alliance and beyond. It seeks to support ongoing development and implementation of DEI practices, inspire with promising practices and practical tools for action, while also offering a space for reflection. It offers both conceptual grounding and practical guidance on how DEI shapes everyday academic life - from teaching and learning to collaboration and institutional culture.
"We developed this toolkit because many people in higher education want to work more inclusively, but often lack the structured, practical support to do so. This resource fills that gap by offering accessible guidance, reflective exercises, and concrete examples that help translate DEI principles into everyday practice—no matter your role", says Natalie Jellinek, educational developer at Karolinska Institutet and coordinator of the NeurotechEU-team behind the toolkit.
From reflection to practice
Rather than treating DEI as an abstract topic, the course invites participants to reflect on their own roles and experiences within higher education. Across seven modules, learners explore key concepts such as equity, bias, intersectionality, and power relations, and consider how these influence learning environments and professional interactions.
A core strength of the course is its emphasis on action. Participants are offered concrete strategies tailored to different perspectives, whether they are students, teachers or support staff, making it easier to translate awareness into meaningful change in daily academic practice.
"Inclusive learning environments strengthen teaching and learning, so DEI is an integral aspect of academic quality that should be evident across the whole NeurotechEU alliance. The value of this course is therefore in providing practical tools that help NeurotechEU staff and students translate DEI principles into everyday academic practice, from awareness to action", says Professor Robert Harris, Vice-President for Doctoral education and Karolinska Institutet's academic representative in the alliance.
A shared European commitment
The DEI course reflects NeurotechEU’s broader ambition to foster a values‑based, inclusive European university environment. Developed collaboratively by experts from across the alliance, it creates a shared point of reference and a common language around inclusion.
The course is designed for flexible participation and can be completed individually, but it also encourages collective engagement. Departments and teams are invited to use the material as a starting point for dialogue, reflection and development within their own institutional contexts.
By supporting learners and staff in building more inclusive practices, the course reflects NeurotechEU’s commitment to universities that balance academic excellence with social responsibility and create learning environments where diverse experiences are recognised and valued.
The training can be found on Campus+ - NeurotechEU's virtual campus