Discrimination and violence based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression continue to be a worrying reality at the European level (EU LGBT Survey, 2013; Eurobarometer on Discrimination, 2015). Despite the progress made to guarantee equal rights and protection of the LGBTQI+ community, European education systems continue to face the pending challenge of guaranteeing inclusiveness and equity at all levels. Higher education institutions have still much progress to make in this regard (Council of Europe, 2011). HEI4Diversity aims to map the existing actions and resources in higher education institutions in different European countries, to create a European network for the exchange of practices related to the inclusion of the LGBTQI+ community in higher education, and to design and develop a digital training course aimed at building capacities among different agents of the university community, regarding the prevention of any form of homophobic and transphobic violence, harassment or discrimination. The Strategic partnership will involve the participation of higher education institutions from different European countries, as well as NGO and other organisations advocating for LGBT Rights at the EU level. The project will contribute to build capacities among the higher education institutions involved, regarding the protection, support and prevention of any form of violence faced by the LGBTQI+ community, from the training and exchange of practices, and will foster the design and further implementation of protocols that allow more effective forms of action, thus contributing to the creation of more inclusive higher education institutions. Likewise, the planned activities will favour the effective collaboration between diverse educational and social stakeholders, fostering a closer connection between higher education institutions and their surrounding communities. Ultimately, the project aims to give a boost to higher education universities to become inclusive communities that guarantee LGBTQI+’s students learning and development.
The project's global purpose was to improve the life quality of the LGBTI+ community and the quality of universities in Europe through boosting their inclusivity towards sexual and gender diversity. First, we aimed to develop a study of existing successful mechanisms implemented in other European HEIs to prevent forms of violence, harassment, and discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. That comparative map would allow the project to generate storage of effective practices against LGTBQI-phobia. Second, the project, considering its international configuration, aimed to build a transnational net of cooperation connecting European HEIs, LGBTI+ organizations, academic staff, and university students. Third, connecting both the international network and the mapping, our consortium had the objective of building a powerful, accurate, and updated training course adapted and open targeting university members in Europe. That material would be an initial platform for HEIs in Europe to take steps against LGBTI-phobia, through prevention actions, providing the university community with tools, knowledge, and successful strategies against violence and discrimination. By last, the project had the ambition of exploiting these results at a local, regional, national and European level from all the countries partners of the consortium (Spain, Italy, Poland, and Cyprus).
The reason why our research team applied for this project was to articulate a successful strategy to fight any form of violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. The scientific evidence analyzed in an initial stage of the project pointed at the worrying reality that threatens the LGBTI+ community in Europe, affecting Higher Education Institutions (HEI). Such a problem has been manifested by different actors involved in the daily life of HEIs in Europe, including academic and administrative staff, students among others. The complexity and breadth of this socio-cultural problem demand a transversal and global strategy that targets all subjects involved at universities. For that reason, raising awareness and training all university members were identified by relevant studies to be a powerful, successful, and impactful strategy to fight the gender inequalities and discriminations taking place in HEIs. Overall, the main needs detected in universities were related to (1) not having accurate and relevant knowledge on the gender and LGBTI+ perspective, (2) the lack of familiarity of university members on existing actions, resources, regulations, and anti-violence protocols on HEI’s, (3) the absence of a transversal and institutional training action that contribute to their members with the proper information regarding the possible risks and needs of the LGBTI+ community.