Kick off meeting and workshop for social inclusion in higher education - Cherish project

On April 27, the opening conference of the CHERISH (Croatia, Hungary, and Romani: Inclusive Solutions for Harmonized Education) project was held at the Department of Romology and Sociology of Education at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of the University of Pécs. Launched under the leadership of the university, the program aims to increase the participation of disadvantaged students in higher education, as well as to reduce their dropout rates.

The conference, held with the participation of the partner institution, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, outlined the project’s objectives, plans, and expected outcomes, while also introducing the collaborating partners and the various colleges for advanced studies of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of the University of Pécs.

Participants were welcomed by Erika Csovcsics, the professional coordinator of the program. This was followed by remarks from Dr. Beatrix Lábadi, Vice Dean of the faculty, who emphasized that the project is important not only for strengthening the relationship between the two universities and their student communities, but also for supporting students from low socioeconomic backgrounds (such as minorities).

This was followed by a joint presentation by Erika Csovcsics and Stephani Jug, the professional lead representing the partner university. The first part of the presentation focused on the project’s goals, highlighting the creation of a gradually built, safe and supportive environment for disadvantaged students. Later, Stephani Jug drew attention to the development of relevant colleges for advanced studies at the Josip Juraj Strossmayer University, while also addressing the situation of underrepresented groups there. These institutions could be established by transforming existing student organizations, thereby creating a natural and attentive environment for vulnerable groups. Based on this, the cooperation also involves humanities and social science educators and professionals who can develop various student projects, soft skills trainings, and academic courses—well illustrated by their active participation in this workshop-style presentation.

As the first milestone of the CHERISH project, the event symbolizing the cooperation between the University of Pécs and the Josip Juraj Strossmayer University was realized as a professional yet pleasant conference. The open and interactive nature of the event reflected not only the project’s effectiveness and transparency, but also the importance of cross-border cooperation between Hungary and Croatia.

The project is supported by the Interreg VI-A Hungary–Croatia Programme, co-financed by the European Union.