From fragmented initiatives to an inclusive university: National Capacity Building at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

On 8 September 2026, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh) hosted a National Capacity Building session within the Beyond Borders project. It took place at the UNESCO Chair in the Faculty of Law. The session brought together 15 participants from across the university: academic and administrative staff, and undergraduate and postgraduate students. Five members of the Beyond Borders project team joined them.

Invitations went to the units that work every day on accessibility, equality and student support. These included the Equal Access Unit, the Gender Equality and Anti-Discrimination Committee, the Department of European Educational Programmes, the Career Services Office and the Student Ombudswoman. Staff from school secretariats and libraries were also invited.

From an international framework to a local conversation

The session built on the Capacity Building session held earlier among the Beyond Borders partner universities and organisations. The training material was adapted to the Greek context and translated into Greek, so participants could take part fully in their own language. One idea framed the afternoon: diversity is a starting point, not an end goal. The voices of the whole university community should shape how the institution becomes more inclusive.

After an introduction to the project and its key concepts (diversity, interculturality and inclusion), participants worked in four mixed groups. Each group brought together staff and students. They first named the barriers they see in daily university life, then moved on to practical responses and tools.

What participants identified

Several themes came up across all four groups:

• Training for staff. Academic and administrative staff, especially those who are students’ first point of contact, need systematic preparation to respond to intercultural and inclusion-related needs. They also need to know where to refer students.

• From isolated measures to a holistic approach. Many good initiatives already exist, but they often work separately. Participants called for an approach that connects disability, gender, language, cultural and social diversity.

• Services that people can actually find. A service existing doesn’t mean students know about it or how to use it. One proposal stood out: a single university-wide “survival guide” explaining what each support service offers and when to contact it.

• Language and accessibility. Language barriers were raised by more than one group. The discussion also highlighted the importance of less visible needs and difficulties.

• Bottom-up meets top-down. Lasting change needs initiatives from the university community to be matched by commitment from university leadership.

Building on what already works

The discussion was not only about gaps. Participants pointed to existing resources at AUTh: the Equal Access Unit, the Erasmus Inclusion Officer, the School of Modern Greek Language, student and mobility networks, and digital tools that could make information easier to reach.

The proposals focused less on creating new structures and more on making existing ones more visible, connected and accessible. They included:

• regular staff training;

• stronger coordination between services and departments;

• more courses and activities on interculturality and inclusion;

• an institutional event where services present their work to each other.

What participants said

Ten of the 15 participants completed the evaluation questionnaire. All of them agreed or strongly agreed that the session met their expectations, was relevant to their role and supported learning and reflection. Nine in ten strongly agreed that it helped them understand the project’s aims and reflect on their own role. The most valued parts were the closing reflection on next steps (80%), the shared diagnosis of challenges and good practices (60%), and the discussion of inclusive leadership and each person’s “sphere of influence” (60%).

Participants also appreciated meeting face to face. They asked for future activities to:

• involve students with lived experience of the issues discussed;

• reach a wider range of departments;

• include more scenario-based activities that address everyday attitudes and biases.

What comes next

The findings and proposals from this session will shape the next Beyond Borders activities at AUTh, including the Beyond Borders Week. This way they will respond directly to the needs and priorities named by the university community. The strong interest shown on the day suggests these upcoming activities will be well supported by AUTh’s staff and students.

Beyond Borders is co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union.

Beyond Borders