The project STATUS (Steering Transition and Advancement of Tertiary Underrepresented Students) builds upon these recommendations from the Council of Europe, emphasizing the importance of higher education institutions in meeting diverse societal expectations and fulfilling multiple objectives beyond knowledge dissemination. These objectives include preparing students for active citizenship in democratic societies and fostering personal development.

Despite the prioritization of inclusion in higher education across European countries, national strategies and comprehensive approaches with long-term commitments to social inclusion in higher education are lacking in many partner countries.