Our practical themes
Inclusion & diversity
Understanding different experiences and responding to barriers to meaningful participation.
One of UnionOfSkills.com’s ten practical themes, not an official EU list. How we organise skills.
Why it matters
This theme connects understanding another person’s experience, communicating across cultural differences, questioning assumptions and responding to barriers to participation. These are distinct ways to examine relationships and decisions. Inclusion also calls for attention to arrangements, access and who has a meaningful opportunity to contribute.
Skills in this theme
Inclusion & diversity
Empathy & perspective-taking
Seek to understand another person's experience, feelings or viewpoint and take it into account.
Inclusion & diversity
Intercultural competence
Interact thoughtfully across cultural differences and recognise that norms and perspectives may vary.
Inclusion & diversity
Recognising bias
Notice how assumptions, stereotypes or bias may shape information, judgement and behaviour.
Inclusion & diversity
Inclusive participation
Recognise and respond to barriers that affect people's opportunities to participate meaningfully.
Also connected with this theme
These skills have their main home in another theme, with a further connection here.
Communication
Active listening
Pay attention to another person’s meaning and check that you have understood it.
Creativity
Creative expression
Express ideas, experiences or meaning through creative forms.
Collaboration & teamwork
Negotiation & resolving disagreements
Work through differing needs or positions to reach a workable way forward.
Entrepreneurship
Ethical & sustainable thinking
Consider ethical, social and environmental consequences when developing ideas or taking action.
Connected themes
Youth relevance
In classrooms, youth groups and community projects, young people may encounter different experiences, expectations and opportunities to take part. Hearing people’s accounts, questioning stereotypes and reviewing participation arrangements can inform how a group works. Those organising participation share responsibility for addressing barriers.