Schools are strongly committed to supporting all students on their learning and development journeys. They aim to provide each student with the knowledge, skills, and competences they need, while also paying attention to individual needs and well-being. Special efforts are made to support vulnerable students in order to create the best possible learning conditions and ensure equal access to education for everyone.
Research shows that close collaboration between all stakeholders involved in education – such as teachers, students, and other professionals – is key to making inclusive education successful.
The I CO-COPE project focuses on creating knowledge on how this collaboration can become more transparent and effective in inclusive school systems, and how all voices – especially those of students – can be heard. The project runs from August 2023 to July 2026 and is co-financed by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union under the grant number 2022-1-BE02-KA220-SCH-000089287.
To support schools in this process (with a special focus on secondary schools), we are using the concept of Communities of Practice (CoP). This approach helps schools bring together everyone involved in the school community, work on common goals, and develop their school further in a participatory and inclusive way.
Objectives
In the course of the project, the partners aim to:
🎓 strengthen schools’ capacity for inclusion
Enhance the ability of schools to address the challenges of providing inclusive education for students with diverse abilities and backgrounds.🤝 foster interprofessional collaboration through a Community of Practice (CoP)
Generate knowledge on how collaboration among teachers, students, and other professionals can contribute to more inclusive schools.🧭 advance inclusive school development
Explore how schools can develop inclusive practices within and across the four partner countries.📢 empower student voice and participation
Promote students’ agency, encourage active participation in democratic life, and help prevent early school leaving and educational failure.
Activities
The project activities are organized into four Working Packages (WPs). Each package focuses on a specific area of work and contributes to achieving the overall goals of the project.
All tasks and activities are assigned to one of these four Working Packages. The graphic below illustrates how the tasks are distributed across the WPs.
Expected results and outcomes
By the end of the project, we will provide a set of practical and inspiring outcomes designed to support schools on their journey towards more inclusive education:
🧩 Knowledge base and reflection tool
A resource to explore and understand the four key concepts of the project, offering schools a foundation for reflection and action.🎓 Professional development package
Training modules and materials to strengthen the competences of teachers and other professionals in implementing a Community of Practice in inclusive educational settings.🎙️ Inspirational podcast
Engaging stories and ideas from practice in secondary schools, to offer insights, spark reflection and new approaches.📖 Communities of Practice (CoP) manual
A hands-on guide for secondary schools on how to set up and successfully implement Communities of Practice.
Project partners
Partners from four countries are working together in this project: Portugal (Politécnico do Porto), Austria (University College of Teacher Education Styria and Chance B), Belgium (UC Leuven-Limburg and Arteveldehogeschool) and Slovakia (Univerzita Komenskeho V Bratislave).
About I CO-COPE
Schools are strongly committed to supporting all students on their learning and development journeys. They aim to provide each student with the knowledge, skills, and competences they need, while also paying attention to individual needs and well-being. Special efforts are made to support vulnerable students in order to create the best possible learning conditions and ensure equal access to education for everyone.
Research shows that close collaboration between all stakeholders involved in education – such as teachers, students, and other professionals – is key to making inclusive education successful.
The I CO-COPE project focuses on creating knowledge on how this collaboration can become more transparent and effective in inclusive school systems, and how all voices – especially those of students – can be heard. The project runs from August 2023 to July 2026 and is co-financed by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union under the grant number 2022-1-BE02-KA220-SCH-000089287.
To support schools in this process (with a special focus on secondary schools), we are using the concept of Communities of Practice (CoP). This approach helps schools bring together everyone involved in the school community, work on common goals, and develop their school further in a participatory and inclusive way.
Objectives
In the course of the project, the partners aim to:
🎓 strengthen schools’ capacity for inclusion
Enhance the ability of schools to address the challenges of providing inclusive education for students with diverse abilities and backgrounds.🤝 foster interprofessional collaboration through a Community of Practice (CoP)
Generate knowledge on how collaboration among teachers, students, and other professionals can contribute to more inclusive schools.🧭 advance inclusive school development
Explore how schools can develop inclusive practices within and across the four partner countries.📢 empower student voice and participation
Promote students’ agency, encourage active participation in democratic life, and help prevent early school leaving and educational failure.
Activities
The project activities are organized into four Working Packages (WPs). Each package focuses on a specific area of work and contributes to achieving the overall goals of the project.
All tasks and activities are assigned to one of these four Working Packages. The graphic below illustrates how the tasks are distributed across the WPs.
Expected results and outcomes
By the end of the project, we will provide a set of practical and inspiring outcomes designed to support schools on their journey towards more inclusive education:
🧩 Knowledge base and reflection tool
A resource to explore and understand the four key concepts of the project, offering schools a foundation for reflection and action.🎓 Professional development package
Training modules and materials to strengthen the competences of teachers and other professionals in implementing a Community of Practice in inclusive educational settings.🎙️ Inspirational podcast
Engaging stories and ideas from practice in secondary schools, to offer insights, spark reflection and new approaches.📖 Communities of Practice (CoP) manual
A hands-on guide for secondary schools on how to set up and successfully implement Communities of Practice.
Project partners
Partners from four countries are working together in this project: Portugal (Politécnico do Porto), Austria (University College of Teacher Education Styria and Chance B), Belgium (UC Leuven-Limburg and Arteveldehogeschool) and Slovakia (Univerzita Komenskeho V Bratislave).