NEOLAiA

Representatives from Bielefeld University, Ostrava University and Suceava University met in Bielefeld for a working meeting on the Inclusion Studies master's course. They exchanged views on content and organisational issues and further developed the joint multiple degree programme. An important part of the meeting in Bielefeld was to obtain student feedback on the current planning status.

Rector Professor Dr Angelika Epple and Vice Rector Dr Michaela Vogt, Vice Rector for International Affairs, Diversity and Society, met the international working group at the start and introduced Bielefeld University to the European guests. 



The purpose of the working meeting was to jointly reflect on and further develop central elements of the degree programme. The participants discussed central elements of the curriculum, the design of approval requirements and marketing strategies to reach prospective students. Another focus was on quality assurance. The partner universities discussed how they can harmonise evaluations and systematically exchange experiences. 

Students give feedback 
In a focus group, the organisers presented the programme to students from Bielefeld University and collected their feedback. The questions ranged from study organisation and mobility to financial and social framework conditions, but also related to content-related topics of the curriculum on inclusive education. The feedback will be incorporated into the further development of the degree programme. 

During their visit to Bielefeld, the guests from Ostrava and Suceava also familiarised themselves with the campus and the city of Bielefeld - for many of the guests, it was their first visit to Bielefeld. The highlight was a visit to the Bethel diaconal organisation as a practical example of how inclusion can be put into practice. 

The Inclusion Studies master course 
The Master's in Inclusion Studies is primarily aimed at Bachelor's graduates from NEOLAiA partner universities with a suitable degree, but is also open to other interested parties. The programme runs over four semesters: students complete the first semester in Ostrava, the second in Bielefeld and the third in Suceava. In the fourth semester, they write their Master's thesis at one of the three partner universities. Funding via Erasmus+ is possible. Graduates of the multiple degree programme receive the respective Master's degrees from all three universities. The application phase for the Master's in Inclusion Studies is scheduled from mid-November 2026 to mid-March 2027.