The annual Higher Education (HE) Conference of the European Association of Distance Teaching Universities (EADTU) was held from 04 to 06 October 2023 in Istanbul (Turkey) on “Accelerating towards a digital and inclusive campus: Empowering Learners: Microcredentials, Generative AI, and Equity“. The Conference provided an excellent context for the presentation of the European co-funded project “Equality, Diversity, Inclusion For improving the qualitY of Management EDUcation, training and professions (EDIFY-EDU)” by the DAISSy Research Group of the Hellenic Open University (HOU), the Greek academic project partner.

The HE Conference is organized annually by the EADTU, which is the Association of Universities of Europe that provide open distance education and that seeks innovation in the field of European Higher Education. The annual Conference focuses on issues related to the new trends and the parameters affecting HE at  European and International level.

It is noteworthy that more than twenty-five (25) countries participate in the EADTU HE Conference on an annual basis, while last year (2022) it took place in Greece for the first time co-organized by the Hellenic Open University, which is a full member of EADTU.

The DAISSy Research Group was actively involved in the 2023 EADTU Conference contributing four (4) scientific abstracts, a result of the high-standard effort and international collaborations of the Group which were accepted and presented in its framework. The papers showcased the results of European research projects which tackle modern and timeless topics regarding HE which and that undergoing by DAISSy, with Achilles Kameas, Professor of the Faculty of Applied Sciences of the HOU and Director of DAISSy, being the Scientific Coordinator.

More precisely and with regard to the axis of strengthening inclusiveness, the presentation on “Accelerating towards an inclusive Management Education: Empowering learners on the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion principles” attracted high interest. It was based on the EDIFY-EDU European project and developed/ submitted by Ms. Eleni Georgakakou (HOU), Audrey Stenson and Josephine Browne (DUN LAOGHAIRE Institute of Art, Design and Technology) and Achilles Kames (HOU).

The EDIFY-EDU project’ presentation was delivered in person by Ms Eleni Georgakakou, Senior Project Manager and Researcher at DAISSY-HOU, who analyzed its methodology and expected results, focusing on the educational distance teaching tools and the blended learning that are being developed in the context of the project aiming at promoting the principles of Equality, Diversity, Inclusion (EDI) and the acceleration towards Inclusive HE in the field of Management.

The EDIFY-EDU is a three-year project co-funded by the ERASMUS Lump Sum Grant of the European Union. It is implemented by a consortium of twelve (12) partners in six (6) EU member-states (namely and in alphabetical order: Austria, Finland, Germany, Greece, Ireland and Italy) and it also involves three Associated partners in Germany, Italy and Belgium. The DAISSy Research Group of the HOU and the Achade-Achaia Chamber Development Entity are the two partners which are thoroughly linked for the effective implementation of the project activities in Greece.

For more information on the EDIFY-EDU project and other activities of DAISSy-HOU:

• Website   : https://daissy.eu/, and www.edifyeduproject.eu
• Facebook : @DAISSyResearchGroup
• Linkedin   : https://www.linkedin.com/in/daissyresearchgroup/, and
•                     https://www.linkedin.com/company/edify-edu/
• Twitter     : @daissy_research
• Instagram: @daissy_researchgroup
• Email        : info@daissy.eap.gr