The assignment
Across Europe, young people with disabilities face similar obstacles when they seek to advance to higher education.
It is rarely just one issue.
It is a combination of factors:
- differences between education systems
- limited preparation for academic and social expectations
- lack of cooperation between institutions
- and not enough room for personal growth and self-confidence
It is precisely in the transition between these two worlds that we see where the system works and where it does not.
What We Do
Bridging Pathways is an Erasmus+ collaboration project (2025–2027) in which we design, test, and share together. The project consists of five components:
1. Co-creation and Design
International design sessions that focus on students' experiences and translate them into practical solutions.
2. Transition program for students
A modular program that supports students in:
- study skills
- social navigation
- self-confidence and independence
3. Train-the-trainer program
For teachers who:
- want to provide better support to students during transitional phases
- aim to embed inclusive practices
- want to strengthen cooperation between educational levels
4. Networking and Collaboration
We are actively building lasting connections between institutions, both within and outside the project.
5. Open knowledge sharing
All insights, tools, and programs are shared openly, so that the impact extends beyond this project.
Bildung and this project
For the Bildung Academy, education is not just about knowledge and skills, but about personal development: how a person relates to themselves, to others, and to the world.
This becomes particularly evident during the transition from special education to higher education. Students often don’t struggle with the academic content, but with questions such as: Do I belong here? What is expected of me? How do I navigate this new environment? How can I function effectively in an independent setting when I’m used to a supportive one?
Those aren't direct study skills, but questions about personal development.
That is why, at Bridging Pathways, we use Bildung as our guiding principle. We support students not only in what they need to be able to do, but also in how they find their place within higher education. At the same time, we work with faculty and institutions to develop a different way of thinking and acting: how do you guide students through such transitional moments, how do you recognize what is going on beneath the surface, and how do you organize education so that there is truly room for different ways of participating.
Our role
The Bildung Academy is the lead partner in this project.
We coordinate collaboration among partners, contribute to the development of programs, and ensure that insights are translated into practical approaches to professional development and educational innovation.
In doing so, we always start by asking how change can become an integral part of existing structures rather than remaining temporary.
Where it takes place
Start and end date
Results/Impact
The project focuses on lasting change, not on temporary interventions.
In practical terms, this means:
- students who take the plunge with greater confidence and better preparation
- teachers who are better equipped to guide students through that transition
- organizations that collaborate on a regular basis rather than on an ad hoc basis
The programs and insights developed are integrated into existing educational practices and continue to have an impact even after the project has ended.
Be surprised and inspired
A bildung trainer from The Bildung Academy will guide you during the course in terms of content and organization. In addition, guest experts from The Bildung Network make an inspiring contribution. We operate in education, science, art, the public sector and sustainable business.
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