The project aimed to support a shift in how inclusion and co-design methodologies are addressed in Computer Science education and software development. A central objective was to promote participatory and co-design approaches so that diverse users can be meaningfully involved in design processes. The project also aimed to strengthen the capacity of educators and professionals to recognise and address exclusion in practice, not only in theory. This included supporting changes in teaching approaches, professional practices, and organisational cultures. Additional objectives were to strengthen cooperation between higher education and industry, encourage transnational learning, and support the development of sustainable approaches to inclusive and responsible digital practices that could continue beyond the project lifetime.
The project was developed in response to growing recognition that digital technologies often exclude certain groups and that inclusion and accessibility are not consistently embedded in how software is designed and taught. While inclusive and accessible computing are increasingly discussed, many educators and professionals lack practical ways to involve diverse users and to address exclusion in everyday design and development processes. The consortium identified a need to move beyond policy statements and awareness-raising toward concrete, participatory practices that reflect lived experience. In particular, people with disabilities, older adults, and other underrepresented groups are rarely involved in shaping the technologies they use. There was also a need to strengthen cooperation between higher education and industry so that inclusive practices are shared across sectors. The project was designed to address these gaps by focusing on participatory approaches, practical methods, and collaboration across countries and sectors.