The project ‘Changing Our Story: The Pursuit of Inclusive Education’ was committed to contributing to knowledge and professionalisation in inclusive education. Through tailor-made activities and a practically-oriented approach we wanted to address the challenges and struggles we face in our institutes and countries and provide solutions and innovative results in the field while also taking our local and cultural contexts into consideration. Through specific staff training and the inclusion of student and community voices we wanted to contribute to sustainable skill development and the creation of a safe, inclusive environment at higher education institutions. Rather than the standard invention-oriented approach, we used the concepts of stories and storytelling, an old, yet innovative tradition within inclusion work. The tangible project products (online course, art exhibit, documentary, website and conferences) served as resources for higher education staff, and the wider community within the field.
The Changing Our Story project partners came together and joined forces in order to address and help to improve the state of inclusive education within the region of Central Europe and beyond. The focus of the project was to target higher education staff as well as students (including those from marginalised populations) and their respective needs. We wanted to raise awareness about inclusive education and the possibilities that come with the creation of an inclusive environment at higher education institutions and, while promoting these ideas and exchanging knowledge and experience, help to contribute to the professionalisation of the higher education staff that should gain knowledge and skills that allow them to give more relevant and effective support to a wider range of individual students.