Inclusive Education

Inclusive education is a course designed for pre-service teachers, with the aim of equipping participants to respond effectively to the diverse needs of participants’ future students. The course invites participants to develop pedagogical practices that foster equity, belonging, and engagement in the classroom.

Content

Participants will be actively engaged in exploring and critically reflecting on key concepts such as:

• Belonging (Cohen, 2022)
• Relationship-rich education (Felten & Lambert, 2020)
• Mentoring constellations (Vandermaas-Peeler, 2023)
• The classroom as a safe and democratic space (bell hooks, 2002)
• Inclusive assessment strategies

Throughout the course, participants will be encouraged to reflect on how these ideas can inform participants’ own teaching and support the development of inclusive learning environments. Together, we will consider how inclusive practices can positively influence student engagement, well-being, and learning outcomes.

One course activity, for example, involves mapping participants’ own supportive and mentoring relationships. This exercise is intended to deepen participants’ understanding of the role support networks play in educational settings and how they can be intentionally developed and used to enhance student learning. As another course activity, students will be invited to observe a class session in a school and reflect on inclusive aspects of student learning.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, students should be able to:

• recognise and address the needs and expectations of a diverse body of students;
• use a set of teaching and learning concepts and approaches relevant for inclusive education to (re)design and teach courses;
• foster a culturally-responsive classroom environment and equitable classroom climate;
• promote students’ awareness of inclusive learning principles and practices;
• adapt their assessment approaches to make them aligned with principles of inclusive teaching.

Programme

Each of the five on-site course days will consist of three sessions, each lasting up to 90 minutes. Networking opportunities will allow participants to get to know their classmates and explore the city of Bratislava. Four facilitators will introduce key concepts related to inclusive education and encourage participants to engage with them through discussions and interactive activities. Collaboration and peer learning are essential components of the course: participants will work closely with peers from diverse backgrounds, drawing on their perspectives and experiences to enrich their own understanding of inclusion in practice.

Assessment

Course participants will be assessed through short writing exercises based on course materials (podcasts, videos, and readings), a presentation, and a brief reflection paper.

Lecturers

Dr. Gabriela Pleschová, Comenius University Bratislava

Dr. Mahshid Alvandi, University of Groningen

Dr. Agnes Simon, Comenius University Bratislava

Dr. Ivana Juríková, Comenius University Bratislava

Dr. Angelika Thielsch, University of Goettingen

Course dates

On-site: 26-30 Jan 2026, Bratislava

Online: 12 Jan and 15 Feb 2026 (hours to be specified)

Entry requirements: Bachelor’s or Master’s enrollment (Education, Pedagogy or related field), Foundational understanding of pedagogical principles, English proficiency atleast B2 level

Students from all ENLIGHT partner universities are eligible to participate. Selection will take place separately at each university. Interested students must apply through their home university. Before applying, they should contact their faculty or programme to confirm whether the course can be integrated into their curriculum and to ensure academic recognition of the credits obtained. Each home university will select the permitted number of students, inform them as soon as possible, and then forward the final list to the host institution. Students who are not initially selected will be placed on a waiting list and may be offered a place if other universities do not use their full allocation. Altogether, the course is planned for up to 30 participants.

Please select your home university below and contact your ENLIGHT coordinator for further information on the application process or consult the linked information.

• University of the Basque Country: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• University of Bern: Application instructions for students at the University of Bern
• University of Bordeaux: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Comenius University Bratislava: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• University of Galway: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Ghent University:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (see information about BIP's)
• University of Groningen: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• University of Göttingen:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (for BIP’s) or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (other courses)
• University of Tartu: Application instructions for students at the University of Tartu
• Uppsala University: Application instructions for students at Uppsala University.

Dr. Gabriela Pleschová, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.