A week on the everyday reality of inclusion
The Athens Academy is a five-day international programme on social inclusion in education, taking place from the 5th to the 9th of October 2026 in Athens, Greece. Hosted by AKMI, Greece’s largest vocational education provider, it brings together educators, trainers, staff from educational organisations and youth workers from across Europe for a week of shared learning, exchange and discovery.
This year the Academy focuses on inclusion not as an abstract principle, but as something educators put into practice in the classroom, day after day. Across five days and 25 hours of training, participants build a shared vocabulary around diversity and inclusion, including gender and sexual orientation, learn to recognise and respond to sensitive situations, and develop concrete strategies for learning environments where every student feels safe, seen and able to participate. Sessions move between hands-on workshops, expert input, case-based discussion and structured reflection.
It is designed not only to educate, but to create a memorable experience. The setting is Athens itself — the Acropolis and the Parthenon, the old neighbourhoods of Plaka and Monastiraki, the ancient Agora and world-class museums a short walk from the training room — the kind of place that turns a training week into a lasting professional network.
Target audience
No specific prior qualifications are required — only a commitment to the topic and a willingness to take an active part. The working language is English, designed to be accessible to newcomers while still offering depth for experienced practitioners.
Five days, day by day
DAY 1
Foundations of social inclusion
DAY 2
Inclusive education & the role of the educator
DAY 3
Embedding diversity & inclusion in the classroom
DAY 4
Building a protective and safe environment
DAY 5
From learning to action
Learning outcomes
Use accurate, respectful terminology when talking about diversity, inclusion and identity.
Recognise situations of exclusion or discrimination in the classroom and respond with confidence.
Embed diversity and inclusion into teaching, learning materials and choice of examples.
Apply practical strategies for a safe, protective learning environment, at classroom and institutional level.
Actively support learners from diverse and vulnerable groups, including LGBTIQ+ students.
Build a working network of peers and partner organisations across Europe.
Methodology
Built on non-formal education: a learner-centred, experiential approach that values active participation over lectures — interactive workshops, group work, case studies and structured reflection, so every participant is both learner and contributor.
Certification
All participants receive a Certificate of Attendance confirming their participation and the competences addressed. On request, a Europass Mobility Document can also be issued in line with Erasmus+ standards.
What the fee covers
Full training programme
Five full days of workshops, expert sessions and site visits.
Single-room accommodation
Comfortable single-room stay in Athens (4–9 Oct). Contact us early for availability.
Welcome lunch
A welcome lunch to open the week together.
Learning materials
All resources and materials used throughout the week.
Cultural activities
Guided historic city-centre walk, Acropolis & Plaka tour, plus Acropolis entrance.
Administrative support
For Erasmus+ documentation and logistics.
Not included: travel to and from Athens, daily meals other than the welcome lunch, and personal expenses. Your Erasmus+ grant is designed to cover these. We’re happy to suggest options and help you plan.
Discover Athens
The birthplace of democracy and one of the world’s great historic capitals — where 2,500 years of history sit beside a lively, modern Mediterranean city.
The Acropolis
The Parthenon and the sacred rock at the heart of the city, with the Acropolis Museum at its foot.
Plaka & Monastiraki
The atmospheric old quarters beneath the Acropolis — neoclassical streets, markets and tavernas.
Ancient Agora & museums
The civic heart of classical Athens, plus the National Archaeological Museum and more.
Food & wine
Souvlaki and mezedes, fresh seafood and Attic wines, in the city’s squares and rooftop tavernas.
