European universities face a significant challenge today: transforming diversity into a declared value into daily practice while combating invisible discrimination and stereotypes that persist in academia. This challenge requires innovative tools and specific skills.
The MOOC “Transversal Skills Framework for a Non-Discriminating Community” addresses this context, developed within the PrEcIOUS project (Promoting Pluralistic Education in European Universities to Combat Invisible Discrimination of LGBTQIA+ People). The University of Siena coordinates this initiative under the Erasmus+ program, with participation from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Greece), the Jagiellonian University of Krakow (Poland), the University of Klaipeda (Lithuania), and OpenCom (Italy). These partners jointly propose an integrated approach to training on combating discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and sexual characteristics.
The training course, available on the platform https://lms.preciousproject.eu, stands out for its modular structure that combines international and national dimensions. Students will explore five fundamental thematic areas: from basic literacy to inclusive communication that respects differences, through the analysis of stereotypes, prejudices, and intersectional dynamics, all supported by tools that enable analysis of the surrounding social context. The innovation lies in the method: beyond online training, the program includes in-person sessions and Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) activities.
“We don’t just aim to transmit theoretical knowledge,” emphasizes Professor Alessandra Viviani from the University of Siena. “Our goal focuses on developing those transversal skills that enable each student to become an active protagonist in changing their university community.” To this end, the platform also integrates an implicit bias test, which measures the evolution of one’s awareness regarding invisible homophobia during the training course.
The collaboration among European universities has resulted in a concrete tool that integrates into existing training paths, opening new ways to build university communities where combating discrimination and respecting every person becomes not just a principle but a collective daily responsibility and practice. This marks a significant step toward higher education that authentically values each student’s uniqueness and diversity.
By Ilenia Costa
