On 6–7 November 2025, the SALTO Inclusion & Diversity in Education and Training (SALTO ID E&T)  and ACA co-hosted a two-part webinar titled “How to Create the Role of an Inclusion Officer at Your Institution.” Designed for staff from higher education institutions (HEIs), the event explored how an Inclusion Officer can strengthen equity and inclusion in universities and support more inclusive participation in Erasmus+. The sessions attracted around 210 participants from HEIs and National Agencies across Europe and were facilitated and co-designed by social justice facilitator and feminist researcher Stella Saliari. 

The event opened with welcoming remarks from Petra Habulin Musladin of SALTO ID E&T, who thanked everyone involved in the related publication and the organisation of the webinar. She was joined by Martin Bogdan from ACA, and together they introduced the new practical guide, “Establishing the Role of an Inclusion Officer in a Higher Education Institution – A Practical Guide,” which served as the foundation for the programme. 

A plenary session followed, offering first-hand insights from several practitioners: Aaron Kang, Inclusion Officer at the Technical University of Darmstadt; Christina Bohle, Erasmus+ Institutional Coordinator at Humboldt University of Berlin; Fon V. Krairiksh, Doctoral Student, Trainer and Consultant; Ishimwe Marie-Aimée Ntawukulityayo, Policy Advisor on Equity, Diversity & Inclusion at KU Leuven; and Yacine Kalke, Social Responsibility Specialist at the University of Helsinki. They shared concrete examples of how inclusion roles are implemented in practice, highlighting both opportunities and challenges across different institutional contexts. 

Participants then moved into breakout rooms to discuss practical approaches to strengthening inclusion in their institutions. Conversations explored how inclusive policies and strategies can be developed, how collaboration between international offices, faculties, and student services can be improved, and how systemic barriers to participation in mobility programmes can be addressed. Participants also discussed how Erasmus+ tools can support inclusion across programmes and partnerships. 

On the second day, the group welcomed an additional guest, Riina Koivuranta, Head of Responsibility and Well-Being at the University of Helsinki. The event concluded with a fishbowl session focused on the transition from establishing the Inclusion Officer role to onboarding and supporting the person taking it on. 

Bringing the two days to a close, Martin Bogdan thanked participants for their engagement and encouraged them to stay connected with future SALTO ID E&T and ACA initiatives supporting inclusion in higher education.