By implementing EQUNI, we aimed to achieve change on two levels. At the individual level, we sought to strengthen emotional intelligence to influence everyday attitudes and behaviours on campus. Our research showed that many discriminatory situations arise not from intent but from unawareness, automatic biases, and communication norms that disadvantage certain groups. By helping students and staff better understand emotions, regulate reactions, and recognise subtle forms of discrimination, we aimed to foster greater empathy, openness, and respectful interaction within diverse academic communities. At the institutional level, our goal was to build sustainable solutions that enable universities to address discrimination transparently and systematically. The analysis revealed gaps such as unclear procedures, hierarchical barriers, unequal workload distribution, and inconsistencies in how cases are handled. We aimed to promote a culture in which problems are acknowledged rather than hidden. EQUNI sought to establish clear recommendations, tools, training formats, and support systems that strengthen institutional responsibility, improve social safety, and ensure fair, consistent responses across campus environments.
EQUNI addressed shared challenges across our consortium and the wider European Higher Education Area. Universities increasingly need effective tools to build emotional intelligence and counter discrimination, yet these issues remain complex and insufficiently managed within existing institutional structures. Recent global data show a four year decline in emotional intelligence, with a 5.54% drop since 2019 and Gen Z experiencing heightened loneliness, burnout, and low satisfaction, underscoring an emerging emotional recession. EUROSTUDENT findings further reveal discrimination as a persistent barrier in higher education, with students reporting unequal treatment and study limitations linked to disability, functional constraints, and health challenges. EQUNI responded by creating shared, practical tools - a board game, mobile app, micro credentials, and guidelines - designed to strengthen empathy, self awareness, and inclusive behaviours. The project supported Europe wide priorities by enhancing institutional capacity, promoting evidence based practices, and fostering cross border cooperation, offering scalable solutions that help universities build safer, more equitable learning environments across Europe.