The 2025 Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme hosted by the University of Bergamo

Inclusive and Accessible Environments for Disability

The 2025 Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme Inclusive and Accessible Environments for Disability – implemented as part of the BAUHAUS4EU project Co-funded by the European Union – was hosted by the University of Bergamo and involved students from the University of Picardie Jules Verne, Bauhaus-Universität Weimar and the Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco. The three universities from Germany, France and Portugal collaborated with the University of Bergamo in the framework of BAUHAUS4EU Alliance to implement a Programme of great cultural value.

The first Phase of the BIP consisted of online activities. Precisely, on February 26th 2025 the online Kick-off Meeting was held with the program presentation and a survey on students’ background and expectations; moreover, on March 12th and 26th 2025 two Introductory webinars were held on basic concepts of disability, inclusion and accessibility.

The second Phase, called Intensive Week, took place from April 14-18, 2025 at the University of Bergamo. 21 students from the universities of Picardie Jules Verne, Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, and Politécnico de Castelo Branco participated and had the chance to share formative moments, both educationally and humanely. It has been a great opportunity for participants to enrich their knowledge on one of the issues at the heart of our Alliance, that of inclusiveness.
The common thread of the week was that of urban, digital and educational accessibility and everything was made possible thanks to the participation of the universities’ authorities, reserchers, professors, experts, entrepreneurs and, certainly, the students.

The first day opened with remarks by University of Bergamo Vice-Rector for Internationalization Flaminia Nicora and presentations of the week’s proceedings by BIP Chair Professor Mabel Giraldo; than continued with the activity held by Professors Ana Ribeiro and Rosario Quelhas from the University of Castelo Branco on the concept of commonality and coexistence of differences. In the afternoon, Professor Mabel Giraldo, a researcher in Didactics and Special Pedagogy, gave the keynote moment about accessibility and inclusion.

The second day started with a session on urban accessibility by Professors Emanuele Garda and Jolien Vandoorne, who invited students to explore how urban planning intersects with equity, participation and lived experience. The afternoon workshop, led by the social cooperative Tantemani through the historic streets of the upper city of Bergamo, combined observation, art, creativity and reflection.

The BIP continued the third day with speeches by Manuele Forcucci, from DOS Design company – who invited participants to rethink accessibility in digital environments – and with Nicolò Volpato, from the company Tangible, who led a workshop on the social impact of technologies.

The fourth day Professor Serenella Besio gave an insight into the promotion of inclusive learning environments and, in the afternoon, the students participated in a workshop – moderated by Sara Cecchetti, Stefano D’Ambrosio and Antonella Gilardoni – which included a visit to some of the University’s locations and an analysis of their level of accessibility.

Valuable was also the informal but precious discussion time carried out in collaboration with the Bergamo section of the Italian National Agency for the protection and assistance of the Deaf. The week ended with a morning of sharing thoughts about the experience and new things learned. The students’ participation was enthusiastic and energetic in all the proposed activities, making clear the importance of an alliance aimed not only at giving in-depth tools but also at creating life experiences.