During the event, the UTH team introduced the concept of “Ikigai” as a pathway to meaningful and healthy ageing, highlighting the project’s emphasis on physical activity, lifelong learning, and intergenerational exchange. Attendees were also invited to express their interest in joining local knowledge-sharing and activity groups. The event fostered dialogue and collaboration, paving the way for the successful implementation of the piloting actions in the upcoming months.
For more information, please contact:
Faviola Alexiou
Center for European Projects, University of Thessaly
[email protected] Project Website: https://ikigai55.uth.gr/
]]>Labs for Change Introduction & Goals
The Labs for Change project aims to generate knowledge on gender equality, raise diversity awareness through participatory methods, and establish spaces in HEIs for social innovation to combat discrimination and foster inclusion. In addition, the project aims to create models designed to incorporate gender perspectives into HEIs’ educational practices and address diversity challenges faced in each Institution. Through an interactive online academy, HEI staff and students will be trained in gender-related content, and implement participatory audits to identify discriminatory biases. In addition, the project will implement gender perspective laboratories in each university A global network of HEIs committed to promoting diversity and inclusion will be established. The Pilot Labs4change will act as a co-creating tool to develop solutions to address identified challenges in HEIs and their territories.
What makes Labs4Change especially powerful is its European reach and rich diversity of partners. The project brings together five forward-thinking organisations that each contribute uniquestrengths and contexts:
- Mondragon Unibertsitatea – Faculty of Business Studies (Enpresagintza) (Spain) – A cooperative university and leading innovator in student-centred learning, social entrepreneurship, and organisational transformation. (Project coordinator)
- 2811 (Chile/EU) – A global platform for social and ecological innovation that fosters sustainable development through education, entrepreneurship, and climate action.
- DINAMIA (Spain) – A cooperative research centre dedicated to promoting inclusive and sustainable development through interdisciplinary knowledge and social innovation.
- Technische Universität Dortmund (TUDO)(Germany) – A renowned institution with deep expertise in spatial planning, social transformation, and urban innovation.
- University of Thessaly (Greece) – A dynamic academic hub actively involved in educational reform and engaged learning across disciplines.
Final Thoughts
Through the integration of the gender perspective, diversity and inclusion in educational institutions, the project will contribute to long-term cultural change. This involves the adoption of more inclusive and equitable practices and policies within universities and society at large.
Labs for Change is part of the Erasmus + Cooperation partnerships in higher education initiatives.
To be always updated about our news and progress, join the project’s community on the following channels:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574788744354
]]>Funded by the Erasmus+ programme (KA220-HED – Cooperation Partnerships in Higher Education), Labs4Change is an initiative that seeks to reimagine the role of universities in responding to complex societal challenges. The project is grounded in the belief that HEIs must be at the forefront of promoting inclusive education, with a strong emphasis on gender equality, active citizenship, and the co-creation of knowledge.
The kick-off meeting focused on several key areas:
- Co-developing the work plan for the upcoming months
- Establishing communication flows and decision-making processes
- Identifying key milestones and deliverables for 2025
- Building mutual trust and cohesion among partners
- An internal capacity-building session on gender equity and institutional transformation.
As part of the agenda, the consortium also interacted with the Travelling University project staff and students—an initiative aligned with Labs4Change’s vision of mobility, critical pedagogy, and social innovation in education.
The collaborative spirit was encapsulated in a joint statement from the consortium:
“The Berlin in-person meeting reaffirmed our shared commitment to building a more inclusive and equitable future for Higher Education in Europe. We stand together in addressing the urgent issue of gender inequality, recognising the powerful potential of co-created, participatory processes to empower students, staff, and communities. Recognising the inherent complexity of this challenge, we are committed to adapting our project to specific local contexts to ensure effective and meaningful impact.”
Having concluded the Berlin kick-off, each partner organisation is now prepared to implement the project within their institutions. The immediate focus will be on launching a webinar series aimed at teachers, staff, and administration, and setting up a co-created Audit Tool and Social Innovation Laboratories (Living Labs) to function as central points for local engagement and systemic change.
With significant momentum and a unified strategic vision, Labs4Change humbly aims to become a key reference point with open resources for those committed to transforming universities into drivers of social impact.For more information, please contact:
Efstathia Koitsanou
Assistant Project Manager of Center for European Projects, University of Thessaly
[email protected]
Project Website: http://www.linkedin.com/in/labs4change-project-88921435a
To learn more about the project activities visit: https://bewell-project.eu/
BEWELL PILOT INTRODUCTION – Department of Public and One Health
The Department of Public and One Health of the University of Thessaly hosted us on Tuesday, March 18 to present the BEWELL Project and talk about the Pilot on Digital and Green Skills .
The BEWELL project has developed Online Courses on Digital and Green Skills that target all health and care professionals. The project aims to assist health and care professionals in their endeavours of reskilling and upskilling their skills and competences.
We would like to thank the Department Chair Professor Lahana Eleni and the Department for Hosting us and giving us the chance to talk about the BEWELL Project.
BEWELL PILOT
The BeWell Project Pilot Training Courses are now available!
Are you a hashtag#healthcare professional looking to enhance your hashtag#digital and hashtag#green hashtag#skills? The BeWell project, co-funded by the EU, is offering free pilot training courses to help you equip with essential competencies for the evolving healthcare landscape.
These courses cover key topics such as hashtag#AI in hashtag#healthcare, hashtag#cybersecurity, hashtag#datamanagement, hashtag#telemedicine, hashtag#sustainability, and much more! They are designed to help professionals like you adapt to digital transformation and green healthcare practices.
Why participate?
Access high-quality, EU-funded training
Stay ahead in the rapidly evolving digital health ecosystem
Gain practical knowledge and boost your career opportunities
REGISTER NOW! 
https://lnkd.in/dA6xJkcV
Let’s build a future-ready health workforce together! 
hashtag#BeWellEU hashtag#DigitalHealth hashtag#HealthcareTraining hashtag#GreenSkills hashtag#LifelongLearning
