Success Stories of Role Models from the Underrepresented Groups: Open EU Initiative

03.03.2026

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Within the framework of OPEN EU project, the team of the project conducted interviews with the representatives of four underrepresented groups, namely, refugees, participants from rural areas, people with disabilities and women in STEM.

In line with one of the project’s strategic targets, namely widening participation among non-traditional learners and under-represented groups in the Higher Education System. OpenEU, the pan-European open university, brings together eight leading European open and distance universities and two on-campus universities engaged in digital transformation to become the European Universities Initiative’s main asset for accessing, using, and exploring digital education knowledge and know-how in the EHEA.

OpenEU intends to take special actions to support the success of underrepresented and disadvantaged student groups and ensure quality higher education for all. As part of this initiative, the team of Work Package 3 has produced a series of four video case studies presenting successful role models within a dedicated subtask, whose professional and personal trajectories illustrate pathways to inclusive participation in higher education and society.

Among those featured is Ilze Stabulniece, owner of the horse ranch “Klajumi,” whose work exemplifies sustainable rural entrepreneurship and cultural heritage preservation. Reflecting on her experience, she emphasised the significance of transforming personal passion into a long-term family enterprise that fosters rural development along the EU’s external border.

The project also highlights the professional integration of Ukrainian migrant specialists in Latvia, including Dmitry Gaponov, a practising dentist in Daugavpils who actively pursues continuing professional development and applies contemporary treatment methodologies in clinical practice.

Representation of persons with disabilities is illustrated through the experience of Nikita Kursišs, a master’s student in Counselling Psychology at Daugavpils University and assistant at the university’s Psychological Support Centre. His academic and professional engagement demonstrates the role of inclusive learning environments in supporting student achievement and participation.

The initiative further showcases women’s leadership in STEM through the work of Inna Samuilika, whose research spans mathematical modelling, nonlinear dynamics, and educational innovation, and who actively contributes to international scholarly discourse through conferences and collaborative projects.

By foregrounding these narratives, OpenEU reinforces its commitment to equitable access, diversity, and the enhancement of inclusive educational ecosystems across Europe. The project continues to implement targeted actions designed to support disadvantaged learner groups and to promote quality higher education opportunities for all.

For more information, please visit the OpenEU project website.