A 2020 research report by the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) indicated that over 37% of LGBTQIA+ individuals stated they had experienced this type of discrimination during their lifetime when seeking housing, healthcare, or other social services, as well as at university or in shops or entertainment venues: the figures are higher for transgender (55%) and intersex (59%) people. In particular, 10% of LGBTI+ individuals experienced adverse treatment during the job search process (19% in Greece, 12% in Italy and Lithuania, 11% in Poland), and 21% at work (31% in Greece, 22% in Italy, 32% in Lithuania, 24% in Poland). Once again, the data relating to transgender (35%) and intersex (32%) people are higher. Overall, the percentages were higher than the European average in all participating countries in the project (Greece, Italy, Lithuania, and Poland), where discrimination rates against LGBTQ+ people are also high.
In this context, PrEcIOUS aims to promote a plural, aware academic community capable of countering prejudice and phenomena such as homophobia or transphobia, fostering a cultural change that can empower the entire student and university community. The goal is not only to work with the group that experiences discrimination, but rather to intervene on the structural and systemic reasons that cause discrimination. In this way, it is possible to overcome the concept of "their inclusion" and replace it with that of "plurality."
The partnership is formed by the University of Siena, the Jagiellonian University of Krakow (PL), Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (GR), the University of Klaipeda (LT), and Open Com (IT) as a technical partner.
The Project results include:
- A lexical glossary, empirical qualitative research.
- A framework on transversal competences for the inclusive university community.
- A training package composed of online pills, COIL, in-person training, and short-term mobility (5 days) for active learning.
- Guidelines for higher education institutions – A vademecum on how to build communities based on the concept of "plurality."
- A memorandum of understanding signed by rectors: for the sustainability of the project: impartial European HEI communities.
All materials are available on the website https://preciousproject.eu/