On 18 September 2026, representatives of all six partner universities of the newly approved Erasmus+ project “Democratic and Inclusive Values in Education for Project Management and Projects” (DIVE4PMP) came together at Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts (FH Dortmund) for their first joint consortium meeting.
The meeting took place during the International Summer Convention (ISC) 2026, held in Dortmund from 14 to 18 September. As representatives of all partner institutions were already present, the consortium took this opportunity to organise an early Pre-Kick-off Meeting, ahead of the project’s official start on 1 December 2026.
Coordinated by FH Dortmund, the DIVE4PMP consortium brings together KU Leuven (Belgium), Kaunas University of Technology (KTU, Lithuania), Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU, Norway), University of the Basque Country (EHU, Spain), and Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture (KNUCA, Ukraine).
During the meeting, Prof. Dr. Carsten Wolff, project coordinator at FH Dortmund, introduced the overall project concept, its main objectives, planned activities, work packages and expected outcomes. The partners discussed the project’s organisational structure, responsibilities and initial implementation steps, establishing a common understanding of the work ahead. First ideas for the project’s communication strategy and visual identity, including possible directions for DIVE4PMP branding, were also exchanged.
DIVE4PMP aims to strengthen democratic and inclusive values in higher education by integrating them into project management education and project-based learning. The project focuses on developing students’ transversal competences, project management skills and awareness of diversity, equity and inclusion. Through international, interdisciplinary and participatory projects, students will have the opportunity to address real-world societal challenges and collaborate with stakeholders beyond the university environment.
Another important component of DIVE4PMP is the development of a Train-the-Trainer programme, supporting university lecturers in applying inclusive, participatory and project-based teaching methods. The consortium will also develop educational resources, digital learning modules and practical project case studies to support the integration of these approaches into higher education.
Looking ahead, the partners discussed the possibility of organising a larger official consortium Kick-off Meeting in Belgium in March 2027. The exact arrangements are still being explored as part of the preparations for the project’s launch.
The Pre-Kick-off Meeting in Dortmund marked an important first step in building a shared understanding of the project’s goals, aligning expectations and laying the foundations for the upcoming three years of international cooperation.
DIVE4PMP officially runs from 1 December 2026 to 30 November 2029, with FH Dortmund acting as project coordinator. The project is co-funded by the European Union under the Erasmus+ Cooperation Partnerships in Higher Education (KA220-HED) programme.
