A new Erasmus+ project, “Social Inequality in Higher Education Students’ Participation in Internationalisation Activities” (SEPIA), has officially been launched by a consortium comprising Tilburg University (coordinator), Oslo Metropolitan University (OsloMet), the Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM), and the Academic Cooperation Association (ACA).

The project team recently met in Tilburg for the kick-off meeting, consolidating ongoing collaboration and advancing the first phase of work on a comprehensive literature review examining social inequalities in access to internationalisation opportunities in higher education.

SEPIA aims to develop a Social Inclusion Assessment Tool (SIAT), a publicly accessible online resource library, and a thematic analysis report identifying key barriers to participation. The project will also deliver institutional workshops, online training activities, and an Inclusive Internationalisation Manual for higher education institutions. A dedicated dissemination campaign will further extend the project’s impact, ensuring that evidence-based strategies reach HEIs across Europe, fostering long-term institutional change in internationalisation.

Stay tuned for more updates and outputs of the project.