The primary objective of IDEM was to increase the participation of students with fewer opportunities in mobility programs while embedding diversity, equity, and inclusion principles into university policies and internationalisation strategies. The project aimed to identify the personal, emotional, and psychological barriers that prevent student participation in mobility programs and to develop an inclusive mobility model that ensures equitable access for all students. By piloting and testing new mobility strategies within the Unite! Alliance, IDEM sought to provide concrete solutions to make mobility more inclusive. Additionally, the project focused on creating practical tools, in the form of an IDEM Toolkit, to support universities in implementing inclusive mobility strategies. A crucial goal was to advocate for systemic change by engaging students, faculty, administrators, and policymakers in co-developing sustainable solutions for more accessible international study opportunities. By transforming institutional practices and fostering policy innovation, IDEM aimed to establish inclusive mobility as a core element of higher education’s internationalisation efforts.
The IDEM project was established to increase the participation of underserved students in mobility programmes by addressing systemic barriers that hinder access. Research and previous Erasmus+ projects have demonstrated that students with disabilities, refugee backgrounds, low-income status, or caregiving responsibilities remain significantly underrepresented in mobility opportunities. Despite financial support mechanisms such as social top-ups, many students still choose not to participate due to psychological, social, and emotional barriers. IDEM aimed to identify and mitigate these obstacles by improving pre-mobility preparation, creating accessible learning environments, enhancing administrative support, and strengthening psychological and social safety nets. Through structured activities such as Inclusion Training and Bootcamps, the project developed practical solutions to ensure that mobility is truly inclusive. By embedding these measures into institutional strategies, IDEM promoted sustainable, equitable access to international opportunities in higher education.