Innovation in education for inclusion, equity and sustainability

Introduction

This Triangular Cooperation Initiative, supported by the ADELANTE Window, brought together three key institutions Institute of Technology and Higher Education (Mexico), Fundación Comillas (Spain), and the Ministry of Education and Culture of Uruguay (MEC, Uruguay) to develop innovative educational solutions for the challenges posed by the digital transition in education in Uruguay.

Objectives

This Triangular Cooperation Initiative sought to exchange knowledge in the framework of the transformation process within the ecosystems of the Partnership member entities, in terms of inclusion, equity and sustainability, in order to develop joint solutions for adapting innovative methods of educational management and learning.

A collaborative approach to educational transformation

The Initiative leveraged the unique expertise of each partner:

• IFE-Tec, First Provider, contributed expertise in digital transformation of education models and practical implementation strategies.
• Fundación Comillas, Second Provider, through the Hub Comillas for Social Entrepreneurship and Educational Innovation, provided knowledge on international collaboration, digital empowerment of vulnerable groups, and education for social entrepreneurship.
• MEC, Uruguay, as the beneficiary, provided leadership in educational resource management and public policy, ensuring alignment with national education policies and human development goals.

Together, the partners worked to develop tools, methodologies, and best practices to support inclusive, equitable, and sustainable education ecosystems in Uruguay and beyond.

Addressing development challenges

The rapid digital transition of education presents significant challenges, particularly in ensuring equitable access to quality education and bridging the digital divide. This initiative sought to:

• Adapt education strategies to meet the evolving needs of education systems.
• Develop innovative tools that integrate pedagogical advancements and emerging technologies.
• Promote social entrepreneurship in education, fostering self-sustaining, community-driven educational models.

By using the Triangular Cooperation framework, the Initiative facilitated mutual learning between Latin American and European institutions, creating scalable and adaptable solutions for Uruguay that could be replicated across different education systems.

Project activities

The work plan of this Initiative was based on five key activities providing the practical exchange of innovative learning methods, coordination with relevant actors, and advocacy; taking advantage of the face-to-face collaboration to foster connections with the education ecosystems of each Partnership member country, in order to understand and address challenges at the local level in Uruguay. 

Key activities included:

• Capacity building: the initiative enhanced the capacity of educators and policymakers through:
  • Training on best practices in digital learning methodologies
  • Workshops held across various cities in Uruguay to equip educators with tools for implementing innovative models
  • Development of digital skills and pedagogical strategies to improve teaching quality
• Research collaboration: study visits enabled on-the-ground learning and contextual adaptation of best practices:
  • Cantabria, Spain – Focused on educational transformation within a political and social framework, with an emphasis on policy advocacy and localised digital solutions
  • Monterrey, Mexico – Included participation in the Education Innovation Congress, with exchanges on digital knowledge transfer with IFE-Tec faculty
  • Montevideo, Uruguay – Explored the implementation of Uruguay’s National Education Policy Plan 2020–2025 and community involvement in education governance
• Model implementation: the initiative produced an educational innovation model featuring:
  • Legal and policy frameworks for digital integration in national education systems
  • A digital platform for educators and policymakers to share resources and collaborate
  • Community-driven education guidelines to support sustainability and local ownership
• Community engagement: a final seminar in Montevideo gathered:
  • Over 215 direct beneficiaries, including educators, students and policymakers
  • Experts from Mexico, Spain and Uruguay to deepen regional collaboration
  • Stakeholders from both public and private sectors to strengthen education policy advocacy

The event showcased the initiative’s key findings and tools, helping scale up successful strategies region-wide.

Cross-cutting themes

The initiative embedded key cross-cutting themes throughout its activities to ensure a comprehensive and inclusive approach:

• Gender equality: encouraging women’s participation in education leadership and digital learning initiatives.
• Environmental sustainability: integrating green education strategies into digital education models.
• Human rights: advocating for equitable access to education and the protection of educational rights for vulnerable communities.

These themes were integrated into joint working sessions, training modules, and policy recommendations, ensuring that education innovation is both inclusive and sustainable.

Results

The Initiative successfully transferred knowledge to educators and policymakers, strengthening digital education ecosystems in Uruguay. The participants' entities applied the tools and methodologies developed, ensuring continuity and scalability of reforms. In addition the initiative established a foundation for continued collaboration between Uruguay, Mexico, and Spain. 

This Initiative directly contributed to SDG 4 ‘Quality Education’ Ensuring equal access to innovative, high-quality education. Including the following targets:

• Target 4.3 ‘By 2030, ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, including university.’
• Target 4.4 ‘By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship.’

This Triangular Cooperation Initiative has proven to be a successful model for addressing educational challenges through collaborative innovation. By combining the expertise of leading institutions, leveraging cutting-edge pedagogical tools, and ensuring inclusive and equitable education, the Initiative has laid the groundwork for sustainable and scalable educational reform.

Implementing partner

Comillas Foundation for Spanish and Hispanic Culture - Fundación Comillas, in Spain