The Erasmus+ co-funded project ‘United – Inclusion and Diversity of Learners with Diverse Backgrounds’ (Pr. No: 2022-2-DE02-KA210-VET-000092335) commenced its journey with a highly productive kick-off transnational project meeting. Hosted by the project coordinator, XU Exponential University of applied Sciences in Potsdam, Germany, on 27th February 2023, the meeting brought together passionate project partners who presented their latest activities and focused on inclusion and diversity. The meeting aimed to outline concrete actions, responsibilities, and deadlines, while setting up communication channels and project management tools to facilitate project development.

Partner Introductions: Embracing Inclusion and Diversity
During the kick-off meeting, each project partner had the opportunity to introduce themselves and showcase their recent activities centered around inclusion and diversity. The presentations highlighted the local problems faced in their respective regions, emphasizing the significance of addressing these challenges through collaborative efforts.
Detailed Discussion of Project Activities
The project consortium engaged in comprehensive discussions regarding all project activities. Every aspect of the project was scrutinized, ensuring a thorough understanding of the tasks at hand. By delving into the details, the partners were able to identify potential roadblocks and devise strategies to overcome them effectively.
Allocating Responsibilities and Addressing Management Issues
A crucial aspect of project management, the allocation of responsibilities, was firmly addressed during the meeting. Each partner’s role was defined, ensuring a balanced distribution of tasks and expertise. Additionally, project management issues were discussed, allowing for effective planning and coordination throughout the project’s duration.

Establishing Communication Channels and Project Management Tools
To foster seamless collaboration, the project partners set up their communication channels, ensuring clear and efficient information flow. In addition, the consortium carefully selected project management tools that would aid in streamlining processes and enhancing productivity. This decision aimed to maximize efficiency and facilitate effective teamwork.
Developing Diversity-Centred Learning Objectives
As a significant milestone within the project, the development of diversity-centred learning objectives was discussed in detail. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the specific training needs, two focus group interviews were planned. The XU Exponential University, as the leading academic institution, would conduct an additional interview with its students. This approach aimed to refine the structure of the training program, making it more tailored to the identified needs.
Dissemination Strategy and Quality Management
The partners devoted time to discuss the project’s dissemination strategy, recognizing the importance of reaching a wide audience and ensuring the project’s impact. Additionally, the consortium addressed the issue of quality management, outlining measures to maintain high standards throughout the project’s implementation.

The kick-off transnational project meeting for the Erasmus+ co-funded project ‘United – Inclusion and Diversity of Learners with Diverse Backgrounds’ marked a highly productive and collaborative start. The meeting facilitated partner introductions, detailed discussions of project activities, allocation of responsibilities, and addressing management issues. By establishing communication channels and choosing project management tools, the partners laid a solid foundation for efficient collaboration. The development of diversity-centred learning objectives and the planned focus group interviews demonstrated the project’s commitment to addressing specific training needs. Overall, the meeting set the stage for a successful and impactful project that aims to foster inclusion and diversity within the learning environment.

*Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.