On 7-8 October 2024, the University of Milan hosted the Flagship 1 PhD workshop "Multidisciplinary perspectives on Disability: towards an inclusive European society".
Organized within the framework of the 1CORE project, the Flagship's PhD workshops aim to foster a 4EU+ environment for PhD candidates to facilitate dialogue with excellent researchers and enable them to cooperate on an international level.
Flagship 1 core themes revolve around urban health and demographic changes. Within this field, relevant topics are the promotion of health, well-being and a good quality of life for all citizens, community cohesion and inclusion, and the development of sustainable and resilient urban contexts. Within this general perspective, the PhD workshop aimed to identifying core problems and potential solutions to disability related challenges, at the individual, family and community levels and across disciplinary areas. Participants were involved in plenary research presentations and discussions within smaller multidisciplinary groups on possible future joint projects proposals.
Professor of psychology Antonella Delle Fave (University of Milan), organizer of the workshop and Flagship 1 coordinator along with Luděk Sýkora (Charles University) and Ulrike Gerhard (Heidelberg University), comments on the achievements of the workshop:
"It was a very meaningful opportunity to know each other, share learning, teaching and research experiences, and draft educational and research projects to be developed and finalized in the next future through joint online work. The atmosphere was very collaborative, and the exchanges among researchers and PhD students were open, friendly and productive. The involvement of participants representing different academic fields, from medicine to law, from urban studies to psychology, from anthropology to genetics, made this event a truly interdisciplinary opportunity for exchanging information, expanding views, and strengthening connections within the Alliance. Considering the importance of addressing the manifold implications of disability at health, education, job and social policy levels, we really hope that this event will bring forward new perspectives in research, education and intervention to build an increasingly inclusive European society. "
The participating PhD candidates highly appreciated the event's multidisciplinary and collaborative atmosphere, where they could exchange ideas across different disciplines and perspectives in groups of researchers from the 4EU+ Alliance's universities. Some of the participants shared their insight into the workshop's takeaways:
"This workshop represented a solid step towards my research project, touching on several topics about disability from a multidisciplinary point of view. It also was an incredibly enriching opportunity from both relational and academic perspectives. Within the context of a vibrant environment, I could share my ideas and my opinions, collaborating with a diverse group, which is the quickest way to reflect on and propose solutions towards achieving a truly inclusive European society!"
"As part of the 4EU+ Flagship 1 workshop on disability, I had the privilege of working within a truly interdisciplinary team across Europe. The diverse expertise and perspectives from various EU countries and disciplines enriched our approach to addressing the complex challenges faced by people with disabilities. This collaboration emphasized how vital multidisciplinary, EU-wide efforts are in creating inclusive, sustainable solutions that improve accessibility, rights, and quality of life of individuals."
"The workshop was incredibly productive for me, as learning about the projects from researchers at other universities sparked new research ideas. The group work sessions towards the end of the workshop were especially valuable, allowing us to generate a wide range of ideas. I believe the outcomes of this workshop will be very impactful. Additionally, the time spent at the university was highly enjoyable, and experiencing the educational environment of a different institution was an enriching experience. I am eagerly looking forward to the next workshop."
“Within the framework of my active participation in the 4EU+ workshop I perceive a great contribution within my research. In addition to the opportunity to present my findings within the wider context of disability, the networking opportunity was very beneficial. The networking with the supervisors of the other PhD students then provided a good learning process to prepare further academic activities, both at the educational and research level.”