UB Solidarity Foundation
The UB Solidarity Foundation is an entity created in 1996 by the University of Barcelona (UB) to promote the university’s role as a socially responsible actor. It works both within the university community and externally at local, national, and international levels to contribute to a more just and inclusive society, focusing especially on vulnerable groups.
The foundation operates across several interconnected fields where universities can generate social impact:
- Cooperation for development
It promotes inter-university cooperation and applied research projects focused on sustainable development, including areas such as human rights, environment and water management, gender equality and social justice.
- Education for global citizenship
It fosters critical thinking, peace education, and awareness of global inequalities.
- Refugee support and inclusion
A key area is the Support programme for refugees and people from conflict zones, launched in 2015, which supports access to higher education and integration into host communities.
- Social action and volunteering
The foundation promotes university volunteering, social agriculture projects, and educational interventions in disadvantaged neighbourhoods, as well as the access to university for students with limited economic resources.
Work on inclusion
Inclusion is a transversal priority in all its activities. The foundation works to ensure equal opportunities and participation through education and empowerment, especially targeting migrants, refugees, and socially excluded groups.
At the European level, the UB Solidarity Foundation participates in multiple Erasmus+ projects that improve accessibility in education, empower educators with inclusive methodologies, and engage marginalized learners through innovative approaches (e.g., food-based learning, visual pedagogy).
Role in the Include Me+project
Within the framework of the European projectInclude Me+, which aims to promote inclusion, participation, and peacebuilding through digital media, the foundation contributes its expertise in social inclusion, education, and refugee support. It participates in the design and implementation of training and research activities and helps transfer the results to the academic and civil society sectors.
In turn, being a partner of Include Me+ reinforces the foundation's strategic priorities: promoting inclusive education and digital participation, empowering marginalized groups, and strengthening democratic values and social cohesion in Europe.
Through its involvement in European initiatives like Include Me+, the foundation expands its impact beyond the local level, contributing to innovative approaches to inclusion, particularly in the constantly evolving field of digital media and civic engagement.
