Inclusive education without borders: Cross-border cooperation for the development of an equitable, accessible, and culturally diverse intercultural education system
Satu Mare, Romania – Tuesday, February 18, 2025. The Satu Mare County Intercommunity Development Association, as the lead partner, will implement the INCLUSIV.EDU – Towards an Inclusive Intercultural Educational System in the Cross-border Area project in collaboration with the Multisectoral Intercommunity Association of the Bereg Microregion (Hungary) and the “Edelweiss” Charitable Association (Zakarpattia Region, Ukraine).
The project aims to enhance inclusive, intercultural education in the Satu Mare – Bereg – Zakarpattia cross-border region through activities that foster collaboration and mutual understanding among educators and students. The INCLUSIV.EDU project will support institutional cooperation to promote intercultural learning practices and ensure that educational institutions in border areas are better equipped to provide inclusive education for diverse student populations.
The initiative will create a more inclusive and diversity-friendly educational system by organizing student camps that promote social and intercultural skills, providing a space for interaction between children from different backgrounds. Teacher workshops will be conducted to equip educators with effective methods for fostering inclusive and intercultural learning environments. Experience exchanges will be facilitated among teachers from Romania, Hungary, and Ukraine to strengthen knowledge-sharing and collaboration. A multilingual guide on intercultural education will be developed, offering practical methodologies for teachers to promote diversity and inclusion. Public campaigns will be implemented to raise awareness of the importance of intercultural education in schools and communities.
The INCLUSIV.EDU project will actively involve students and teachers in cross-border educational activities. In Romania, 120 students from six secondary schools in Satu Mare County, accompanied by 24 teachers, will participate in a diversity and integration camp designed to promote intercultural understanding and inclusion. Additionally, 6 puppet theatre performances will be organized in local schools for at least 200 students aged 6-10 years. From Hungary and Ukraine, a total of 100 students aged 6-14 will take part in summer day camps, while 40 teachers from all three countries will participate in two study visits focused on inclusive education practices. Moreover, interactive workshops and cultural activities in these countries will engage approximately 400 additional students in discussions on tolerance, diversity, and social inclusion. By the end of the 12-month project implementation period, starting January 20, 2025, the initiative is expected to significantly enhance tolerance, accessibility, and inclusivity in education within the cross-border region.
The total budget for the project is EUR 299,944.26, of which EUR 269,949.83 is funded by the European Union through the Interreg VI-A Next Hungary-Slovakia-Romania-Ukraine Programme. The investment will not only benefit teachers and students but will also contribute to the broader goal of strengthening institutional partnerships between educational organizations across borders.
By promoting cooperation and mutual understanding among students, teachers, and communities, the project will encourage long-term collaboration in education, ensuring that intercultural learning remains a key component of school curricula in the region.
For further details about the project and media inquiries, please contact:
Satu Mare County Intercommunity Development Association
Contact Person: Nicoleta Lasan
Position: Executive Director
Phone: 0040742921114
Email: adijudetsm@yahoo.com
Website: www.adijudetulsatumare.ro
To learn more about the Interreg VI-A Next Hungary-Slovakia-Romania-Ukraine Programme, visit: https://next.huskroua-cbc.eu/.
This press release was produced with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of Satu Mare County Intercommunity Development Association and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.
