BTG-FORTHEM
Bridging the Gap is a FORTHEM Digital Transformations project running from January to June 2026. Its purpose is to map accessibility and inclusion initiatives at the University of Valencia (UV), Université Bourgogne Europe (UBE), and across the FORTHEM Alliance, and to promote inter‑institutional skill‑sharing in these areas. The project brings together students, academic staff, accessibility professionals, and end users to collaboratively identify accessibility challenges, exchange expertise, and co‑create practical tools and activities.
The project is structured around two intensive seminar weeks, one hosted at UV (24–26 March 2026) and one at UBE (9–12 June 2026). These hybrid events include training sessions, participatory workshops, brainstorming activities, and collaborative design of accessibility‑focused materials. Sessions are open onsite and online, conducted in English and French, and designed to ensure broad participation.
The project responds to the growing institutional and societal need for accessible learning environments, particularly in the context of the 2019 European Accessibility Act and the new digital accessibility legislation implemented in EU member states in 2025. It aims to strengthen awareness, foster inclusive practices, and support the development of future accessibility‑aware professionals.
Project information and programmes are publicly available:
- UV intensive week (March 2026): https://tinyurl.com/AccessValencia26
- UBE intensive week (June 2026): https://tinyurl.com/AccessDijon26
Photos and updates are shared on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bridging_the_gap_forthem
accessibility, inclusion, higher education, co-creation, participatory design, digital accessibility
- Lopez Rubio, Maria
- PDI-Substitut/A
Will Noonan (UBE)
UBE: MV Eck, Laurie Le Roux, Hakim Boussejra, Luz Martínez Villermosa, Elaine Anderson, Julia Degenhardt
Other: Luz Belenguer Cortés, Alejandro Romero Muñoz
- Lopez Rubio, Maria
- PDI-Substitut/A
UBE: MV Eck, Laurie Le Roux, Hakim Boussejra, Luz Martínez Villermosa, Elaine Anderson, Julia Degenhardt
Other: Luz Belenguer Cortés, Alejandro Romero Muñoz
FORTHEM Alliance – Digital Transformations Lab
Universitat de València and Université Bourgogne Europe – FORTHEM (support for seminar organisation)
The project is integrated into the activities of the Digital Transformation Lab within the FORTHEM Alliance, as part of the European project FORTHEM (Project 101089463, ERASMUS‑EDU‑2022‑EUR‑UNIV‑1). It is funded by the European Union through the ERASMUS+ programme and by the Universitat de València. Additionally, the Universitat de València has received supplementary financial support from the Government of Spain.
