Gheorghe Asachi Technical University of Iași (TUIASI) hosted a series of events as part of the SMILE (Social Meaning Impact through LLL universities in Europe) international project between 27 – 30 September 2022. During this time, one of the instruments developed in the project was tested – the Diversity Audit Model.
The European partners delegation at TUIASI included EUCEN (project coordinator) project manager and project officer, researchers at Turku University in Finland and Maynooth University in Ireland.
Professor Irina LUNGU, Phd. Eng., International Affairs Vice-rector and SMILE project director at TUIASI, moderated the audit sessions, alongside Constanța Pravăț and Ana-Maria Șoican, International Relations Office representatives.
“The audit model developed in cooperation with six universities and five NGOs and tested in our university is an exercise of reflection upon the way in which diversity and inclusion are incorporated in our academic culture, with special accent on one of the three pylons of the SMILE project: low socio-economic status students, migrant students and women in leadership“
said Professor Irina LUNGU
Over the course of three work sessions, university leadership, professors and student representatives tested the Diversity Audit Model, an innovative tool that will be applied at six European universities. The tests continually improve the model, resulting in a work tool that will be completely adaptable and transferable to other universities and educational stages and that can offer an image on approaching diversity and inclusion in educational institutions.
“The Diversity Audit Model will give us the opportunity to reflect upon our own approach and operational direction regarding strengthening diversity and promoting inclusion. Our university, which is responsible for Project Pylon 3, will implement a support and guidance tool for educational institutions to help establish educational policies and services dedicated to better include socio-economic underprivileged students in day to day life and to support them in finishing their studies and finding jobs in companies in their field of study”
said Professor Irina LUNGU
TUIASI is a member of SMILE – Social Meaning Impact through LLL Universities in Europe project, coordinated by the European University Continuing Education Network – EUCEN, Grant agreement number: 621433-EPP-1-2020-1-BE-EPPKA3-IPI-SOC-IN.
The aim of the project is to develop and implement innovative methods and practices to promote inclusive education at university level. SMILE project will encourage participation, progress and performance of socio-economic underprivileged students through supporting teaching staff on consolidating diversity and social inclusion. The project is co-funded by the European Union (through Key Action 3 of Erasmus+ programme, Social Inclusion and Common Values: The Contribution in the Field of Education and Training).
