SMILE Final Symposium on Diversity and Inclusion

Barcelona (ES), Thursday 16 November 2023

Diversity in modern society – Making inclusion a central strategy in our universities

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In our multi-cultural societies, there is a richness of ideas, preferences, customs and viewpoints. This offers endless possibilities for learning and growth. However, sometimes political and economic factors overshadow the opportunities that diversity brings with it. Universities can play a crucial role in countering this trend, and ensuring that such opportunities are recognised and that the potential of diversity is fully realised. But, are universities prepared to go ‘that extra mile’ towards diversity and inclusion?

We invite you to explore diversity and inclusion in higher education (HE) during our forthcoming SMILE Final Symposium in November!

The SMILE Symposium, organised by eucen with the project consortium, will be followed by the 2023 eucen Autumn Seminar. These events aim to give visibility to the way universities are (or should be) addressing diversity and inclusion, and celebrate the growing importance and relevance of the third mission of universities and the role that lifelong learning (LLL) plays in this context.

Contributions have been accepted. The authors of the strongest abstracts will be be competing for one of the SMILE Awards on Diversity 2023

Do not miss the opportunity to hear the presentations from peers on diversity and inclusion. You can learn from them and share your views on the work they have done. 

If you are interested in the topic of diversity and inclusion and you like the work that SMILE has developed, send us a letter of support!

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Venue

This is a full face-to-face event. The Fundació Solidaritat Universitat de Barcelona is hosting this symposium in their premises:

 

Campus UB de Sants
carrer Melcior de Palau, 140
08014 Barcelona

 

The venue is very easy to reach by train “Renfe” (stop: Sants Estació), Metro (stop: Sants Estació for L3 and L5) and many buses (27, 78, 109, 115, D40, H10, V5, V7).

Registration

Participation in the SMILE Symposium is free, however, all participants are required to register in advance. The registration process is now closed. We are sorry we cannot accept more participants.

 

To ensure that the event can be held in the most sustainable manner and to avoid any unnecessary food waste, please inform us by email at events@eucen.eu if your plans change and you wish to cancel your participation. We thank you in advance for your collaboration. 

Let’s make a better world together!

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Programme

08:45

Registration

(Ground floor)

 
09:15

Welcome to the University of Barcelona

(Sala Valverde, ground floor)

Montse PUIG – University of Barcelona (ES)
09:30

Presentation
The SMILE project in a nutshell
(Sala Valverde, ground floor)

Carme ROYO – eucen (BE)
09:45

Panel
The three SMILE pillars: Singularity and intersectionality

Session presented and moderated by: Emmanuel ACQUAH. Åbo Akademi University (FI)

(Sala Valverde, ground floor)

Presenters:

  • Cati JEREZ – UBSF (ES)
  • Ester COIS – UNICA (IT)
  • Claudiu ROMILA, TUIASI (RO)
10:30

Parallel sessions (3 groups)
Selected cases of diversity and inclusion in HEIs will present their work

  • Group A (Room 123 – first floor)
  • Group B (Sala Valverde – ground floor)
  • Group C (Room 114 – first floor)

Moderators:

  • Camilla FITZSIMONS – Maynooth University (IE)
  • Carmel BORG – University of Malta (MT)
  • Kia LUNDQVIST – University of Turku (FI)
11:20

Coffee break

(Hall in the -1 floor)

 
11:50

Summary from the Parallel sessions by the moderators

(Sala Valverde, ground floor)

 
12:10

SMILE Awards 2023 on diversity and inclusion in higher education

Awards presented by the external Jury member: Pat DAVIES (independent expert)

(Sala Valverde, ground floor)

 
12:30

World Café – Explore the SMILE tools

  • Resources and literature
  • Audit model
  • CPD courses
  • Policy Recommendations

Session introduced and moderated by Isabell GRUNDSCHOBER. University for continuing education Krems (AT)

(Hall in the -1 floor)

  • Maria CAPRILE – NOTUS (ES)
  • Beate HÖRR – JGU (DE)
  • Camilla FITZSIMONS – Maynooth University (IE)
  • Carme ROYO – eucen (BE)
13:30

Lunch

(Hall in the -1 floor)

 

After lunch the SMILE Final Symposium will merge with the 2023 eucen Autumn Seminar to create synergies. If you are interested in diversity and inclusion, you might want to extend your stay and register for the 2023 eucen Autumn Seminar as well. Follow this link to do so.

14:50

Opening and Welcome to the new arriving participants
Summary of the SMILE Symposium morning session:
Getting into the diversity and inclusion mood!

Summary of the main ideas from the World Cafe by the moderators of the “corners”

(Sala d’Actes. Floor -1)

Beate HÖRR – JGU (DE)
15:20

Dialogue between researcher and practitioner
How does theory compares to reality at diversity and inclusion level?
How can research help practice and how can practice feed research? Different perspectives to a same challenge.

Session introduced and moderated by Kirstin SONNE, University of Edinburg (UK)

(Sala d’Actes. Floor -1)

  • Researcher: Lilian NWANZE – Maynooth University (IE)
  • Practitioner: Matthew WEAIT – Oxford University (UK)
16:30

Open floor for discussion, questions and comments

Session moderated by Kirstin SONNE

(Sala d’Actes. Floor -1)

 
17:00

Closing of the day
Thanks

(Sala d’Actes. Floor -1)

Carme ROYO – eucen
Beate HÖRR – JGU (DE)

17:15

Networking Cocktail

(Hall in the -1 floor)

 
20:00 Symposium Dinner 
Restaurant Abrassame
Les Arenes. Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 373 – 385. 08015 BARCELONA
 
 

Images by Freepik

Event organised by eucen in collaboration with Fundació Solidaritat UB and University of Barcelona on behalf of the full SMILE consortium

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Scientific committee

  • Camilla FITZSIMONS, Maynooth University (IE)

  • Carmel BORG, University of Malta (MT)

  • Kia LUNDQVIST, University of Turku (FI)
  • Pat DAVIES, external expert and Jury

Organising committee

  • Carme ROYO, eucen

  • Montse BELTRAN, eucen

  • Cati JEREZ, Funcació Solidaritat UB (ES)
  • Angels CERDÀ, Funcació Solidaritat UB (ES)

For questions about the event, please send your messages to events@eucen.eu

All eucen events are regulated by the eucen General Terms and Conditions for Participants in eucen Conferences and events. By attending eucen events you agree with these terms and conditions.