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As the UPWELL Project (Teachers UPskilling for WELL-being in multicultural classrooms) comes to a close, we take a moment to reflect on its impact and achievements over the last two years. This Erasmus+ initiative has been a joint effort to equip school educators with the tools, knowledge, and emotional support needed to thrive in today’s diverse and complex classroom environments.

A Project Rooted in Research and Real Needs

The UPWELL journey began with an extensive research phase, involving hundreds of teachers from five European countries – Italy, Greece, Croatia, Spain, and Cyprus. Through surveys and focus groups, the project identified the challenges teachers face in multicultural classrooms, including emotional fatigue, lack of training in inclusion strategies, and the need for peer support.

This research laid the foundation for the project’s design and approach, putting teachers’ well-being, self-efficacy, and inclusion at the center of its methodology.

Upskilling Educators Through Training

Following the research phase, UPWELL developed a Joint Curriculum and Specialisation Course, carefully designed to combine theoretical insights with practical applications in the classroom. Topics included:

• Teachers’ wellbeing and resilience

• Classroom management in multicultural contexts

• Inclusive and culturally responsive teaching strategies

• Building a positive school climate

• Peer collaboration and support networks

The curriculum was piloted through two Training of Trainers (ToT) events in Verona, where educators from all partner countries came together to experience the program first-hand. These in-person trainings were highly interactive, involving reflection exercises, co-creation activities, and intercultural dialogue. After these sessions, trained teachers began applying the curriculum in their own schools, reaching both their peers and students.

The UPWELL course is now available online and open to all!

Free and accessible, the online course is structured into flexible modules and units. It offers educators the opportunity to explore teacher wellbeing and inclusive teaching at their own pace — with practical tools, strategies, and exercises that can be applied in real classrooms.

Final Conference in Verona

On 29 November 2025, the project reached a milestone with its Final Conference, held at the University of Verona, under the theme “Teaching in Multicultural Classrooms Today”. The event was exclusively attended by school teachers, who had the opportunity to connect, reflect, and deepen their understanding of inclusive and wellbeing-centered teaching practices.

The agenda featured:

• A keynote on inclusive schools through intersectional and decolonial intercultural approaches by Prof. Paola Dusi

• A comprehensive presentation of the UPWELL methodology and training curriculum by project partners

• Case studies and testimonials from teachers and field professionals who shared how the UPWELL approach has transformed their work with students

• A final reflection on sustaining inclusive, wellbeing-focused practices in European education

We warmly thank all project partners, teachers, and supporting institutions who made UPWELL possible. Your dedication, collaboration, and passion have shaped a project that leaves a meaningful legacy for inclusive education in Europe.

Stay tuned for relevant future initiaves!