ECEM Project Concludes with Key Open-Access Research Publications

ECEM Project Concludes with Key Open-Access Research Publications on Inclusive Internationalisation

The Enriching Communities through Engaged Mobilities (ECEM) project, a collaborative European initiative to deepen the links between civic engagement and internationalisation for inclusive societies, has successfully concluded with a suite of high-value, open-access research publications. The project’s findings and tools offer evidence-based guidance for higher education institutions, student organisations, policymakers, and civil society partners aiming to make international mobility more socially engaged and inclusive.

Throughout its three-year lifespan, ECEM worked to reframe student mobility as a transformative learning and societal engagement experience, supporting the integration of community engagement, active citizenship, and service-learning in Erasmus+ and other internationalisation frameworks.

ECEM Publications – Research Outputs and Resources

Below is the list of publications produced by the ECEM consortium, with titles matching those hosted on Zenodo and corresponding DOI links:

Service-Learning: Enriching Communities Beyond Borders
A comprehensive handbook introducing the theoretical foundations and practical models for integrating service-learning into Erasmus+ mobility programmes, with empirical insights and implementation strategies.
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17341340

Integration of Service-Learning Actions in Erasmus+ Mobilities: Policy Report
A detailed policy analysis of how service-learning and civic engagement can be better embedded in mobility policies at European, national and institutional levels. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17553425

Inclusion and Engagement in Mobility through Volunteering
This research publication explores the links between volunteering, active citizenship and inclusion within the context of international student mobility, offering evidence-based insights and recommendations.
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17553681

Volunteer on Exchange Activities Toolkit
A practical toolkit designed for student representatives and activity organisers to plan, implement and evaluate community-engaged activities during student exchanges.
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17553641

Connecting Community Engagement and Internationalisation: An Overview of Challenges and Opportunities
This report examines how community engagement connects with internationalisation, highlighting current challenges, research insights, and opportunities for institutional action.
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16684829

Building on ECEM’s Legacy

These publications encapsulate the core knowledge and practical outputs of ECEM, reflecting the project’s commitment to embedding community-engaged practices into internationalisation strategies across Europe. They serve as open resources for institutions and practitioners seeking to strengthen civic engagement in mobility, support inclusive learning environments, and foster meaningful collaboration between students, universities and local communities.

For more on the project and access to related materials, visit the ECEM website: https://www.ecem-project.org/.

VUB education conference 2026 amplifies the impact of the SPACE project

On 26 May 2026, Vrije Universiteit Brussel welcomed more than 200 academics, educational support staff, and university leaders to its annual Education Conference. For the Erasmus+ SPACE project, the event served as a significant local multiplier event — an opportunity to share curriculum redesign experiences with a large institutional audience and to stimulate broader dialogue about the future of community-engaged higher education.

European university alliances advancing community engagement

Three European university alliances — EMERGE, EUNICoast and YUFE — are actively working with tools and approaches developed through the community-engagement.eu platform to strengthen their community engagement strategies.

New UNESCO framework names community engagement as core mission of higher education

Community engagement in higher education is gaining growing recognition at both policy and institutional levels. A major milestone came with UNESCO’s 2026 roadmap Transforming Higher Education, which explicitly places community engagement alongside teaching and research as a way for higher education institutions to respond to major societal challenges.

EngageComp: making student civic engagement competences visible

The new EngageComp framework responds to this challenge by offering a structured way to identify and recognise the competences students acquire through civic engagement. Developed within the Erasmus+ EngageAll project, the framework is designed as a practical resource for educators, higher education institutions, civic partners and students themselves.

SPACE webinar: making community-engaged practices sustainable in higher education

Community-engaged teaching, learning and research are taking place in universities across Europe. Academics and students are working with external partners through service-learning, challenge-based learning, collaborative research, citizen science, patient and public involvement, and many other forms of engagement.

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