From October 14 to 16, 2025 : the Diversity and Inclusion group met in Nicosia (Cyprus)
from October 14, 2025 to October 16, 2025
As part of NEOLAiA's diversity and inclusion working group, coordinated by Bielefeld University, Lionel Honoré and Benjamin Depauw were welcomed to Nicosia to work on training courses that will be offered to the alliance's students and staff.
Training for staff: NEOStaff
Aimed at non-academic staff, this training course will take place from May 4 to 8, 2026 in Bielefeld, Germany. Staff from the nine universities will come together for a week to learn about inclusion and diversity in universities.
The training will be based on the principles of the NEOLAiA charter, best practices and existing local expertise.
Workshops will be held in the mornings, while the afternoons will be devoted to group work sessions to reflect on good practices to adopt or develop, and the means necessary to achieve them.
Training for students: NEOMentor
This intensive hybrid programme (Erasmus BIP) will take place from September 21 to 25 September 2026 and will bring together five students per university. Selection will be based on criteria that prioritise social engagement and representative roles (including in student associations), with a particular focus on encouraging students from under-represented groups.
The topics covered will be:
- solutions for overcoming barriers to inclusion
- conflict resolution
- networking within institutions and communities to combat barriers affecting under-represented groups
- searching for and approaching mentees
Students will earn 3 ECTS.
Once back in Tours, each student will be required to find at least two students affected by specific barriers and mentor them using the skills they have acquired. This will enable them to earn a digital badge.
