Inclusive Education was at the centre of two initiatives involving researchers and faculty members from Universidade Lusófona, fostering reflection on progress, current challenges and future perspectives in this field.

On 17 September, the International Symposium “Inclusive Education: Seeing and Understanding” took place, with the participation of António Teodoro, Director of CeiED, Luzia Lima-Rodrigues, Director of the Master’s Degree in Special Education, and speakers Inês Alves (Scotland), Liliane Garcez (Brazil) and David Rodrigues (Portugal). Over three hours, the speakers presented different perspectives on Inclusive Education in these contexts, addressing the progress achieved, current challenges and promising pathways for the future, followed by a discussion with participants. The event was accredited as a Short-Term Training Activity by the Continuing Education Centre of the Institute of Education of Universidade Lusófona.

Universidade Lusófona also participated in the 3rd Colloquium “Inclusion and Diversity: Pathways to Quality of Life and Well-Being”, organised by CERCIChaves, where Luzia Lima-Rodrigues moderated the roundtable “Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Implementation, Monitoring and Challenges at the Global Level”.

The session brought together experts from different countries and institutions, including João Costa, Director of the European Agency for Special Needs and Inclusive Education; Filomena Pereira, UNICEF International Consultant for Inclusive Education; David Rodrigues, Invited Full Professor at Universidade Lusófona and member of the National Education Council; Sara Neto, Executive Secretary of the National Monitoring Mechanism for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; Maria da Luz Mussuali, from CERCI Coração Azul, Angola; and Flávia Roldan Viana, from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.

These initiatives reinforce the commitment of Universidade Lusófona and CeiED to research, education and critical reflection on Inclusive Education, fostering dialogue across different contexts and contributing to more equitable and inclusive education.