Moving forward in inclusion: Arqus Inclusion & Diversity Hub Board meeting review

From 5^th to 7^th February, members of the Arqus Inclusion & Diversity Hub Board met at the University of Wrocław to discuss the work plan and other inclusion-related initiatives that are being already implemented or that are planned for the future.

On the first day, Board members had the unique chance to listen to a very diverse panel of speakers, staff members and students of Wrocław University who deal with different aspects of inclusion at their institution. The group also had the opportunity to try some tools that are normally used in disability simulation labs for students in social health courses, such as glasses that simulate visual impairments and wheelchairs. Besides, the participants in the meeting experimented with safety escape chairs and mattresses, under the guidance of an expert trainer.

Over the second and third days, intensive work sessions were conducted, centring on preparing the main results, defining steps and roadmaps, and assigning responsibilities and tasks. Another topic of discussion was the organisation of the first Arqus Staff Week on Inclusion & Diversity. Great progress was made both in the definition of content and the fine-tuning of organisational aspects. Stay tuned for forthcoming details!

The meeting represented an important milestone for the group and it was enriching both in a professional and personal way. It was an excellent occasion to deepen already existing collaborations and to initiate new ones, for instance on the topic of students at risk. It allowed the group to connect with the Communities of Practice, who have a shared home between Wrocław and Granada, and thanks to the amazing local Arqus team, it opened the doors to a wonderful city.

Once again, the meeting confirmed how challenging and beautiful it is to work for inclusion in a context as wide as Arqus and, once again, it showed how this has to be a joint, Alliance-wide commitment, much beyond the reach of the Inclusion & Diversity Hub alone.