EHEI (Ecosystems for Higher Education Inclusion) is a Horizon Europe-funded project that brings together universities, civil society organisations, and researchers from Europe and Latin America to promote more equitable and inclusive access to higher education for underserved communities.

The project addresses a critical question: What do transitions into, through, and beyond higher education look like from the perspective of underserved groups? Through interdisciplinary research, international collaboration, and staff exchanges, EHEI seeks to better understand the barriers that limit participation in higher education and to develop innovative approaches that foster inclusion and social justice.

Adopting an intersectional perspective, EHEI examines how factors such as socioeconomic status, disability, ethnicity, migration background, gender, and other dimensions of identity shape educational opportunities and experiences. The project combines academic knowledge with the expertise of civil society organisations and community actors to co-create solutions that respond to the realities of learners and communities.

Through six interconnected work packages, EHEI will:

• Generate new knowledge on educational transitions and inclusion processes;

• Explore innovative models of university inclusion and knowledge production;

• Strengthen inclusive teaching, guidance, and administrative practices;

• Foster community-based solidarity spaces and advocacy initiatives;

• Develop and pilot inclusive research methodologies; and

• Establish a sustainable international network dedicated to advancing higher education inclusion beyond the project's lifetime.

Ultimately, EHEI aims to contribute to the transformation of higher education systems by promoting inclusive policies, practices, and partnerships that enable all learners, particularly those from underserved groups, to access, participate in, and thrive within higher education.

Funded under the Horizon Europe Programme through the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA), EHEI supports the creation of sustainable ecosystems that connect universities, communities, and civil society actors in pursuit of more inclusive and democratic educational futures.