REINFORCING Incubator project
Rethinking Digital Transformation in Higher Education through ORRI-Guided Institutional Strategies
About REINFORCING
REINFORCING is a 50-month project, funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe R&I Framework Programme, aiming at mainstreaming Open and Responsible Research and Innovation across Europe. To achieve this, REINFORCING will deliver support, resources and cascading grants to territories and institutions willing to embrace the ORRI approach for the first time or to strengthen their ORRI processes and practices.
OBJECTIVES
Co-create an ORRI-Aligned Design Methodology
- Joint co-creation workshop
- Initial design and content guidelines for the Ethics-in-Practice Framework
- ORRI Translation Map
Develop and Validate the Ethics-in-Practice Framework
- Focus groups co-design workshops
- Pilot testing and training for educators and students
- Finalized Ethics-in-Practice Framework for responsible use of digital tools
Ensure Transferability and Dissemination
- Open-access publication of all project outputs
- Validation by external institutions and creation of a Transferability Guide
- Dissemination through conferences, networks, and public webinars
MAIN ORRI ELEMENTS
- Openness → Fostering transparency and public engagement: all guidelines and tools are accessible, and students and educators have clear insight into the methodology and decision-making logic in classroom and digital projects.
- Responsibility → Promoting responsible use of digital tools: the framework includes risk checks, ethical AI guidelines, data protection, and privacy measures, along with checklists to ensure safe, fair, and ethically responsible use in both teaching and learning, as well as research involving AI tools.
- Reflexivity → Encouraging continuous reflection on impact: students and educators evaluate the consequences of their actions, use co-assessment tools, and adapt practices based on feedback and ethical standards.
- Inclusiveness → Supporting inclusive and diverse practice: tools and materials consider different demographics, DEI guidelines, language accessibility, and ensure meaningful participation of all students in the learning process.
Rethinking Digital Transformation in Higher Education through ORRI-Guided Institutional Strategies (RE-IMAGINE)
Project reference: REINFORCING-I3_7
Call: 3rd REINFORCING Incubator Call
Duration: 1st November 2025 – 31st October 2026
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Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the REA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
ABOUT THE RE-IMAGINE PROJECT
The project develops the Ethics-in-Practice Framework for Educators and Students, a practical tool for the ethical integration of digital tools and generative AI in teaching and learning. Grounded in ORRI values, it tackles challenges like fragmented governance, limited technical capacity, and lack of frameworks for responsible digital adoption. It also drives institutional change by embedding ethical principles into daily practices, helping schools and universities adopt transparent, inclusive, and responsible digital education.
THE SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT ARE:
Objective 1:
Co-create an ORRI-aligned design methodology that provides a collaborative, interdisciplinary foundation for developing the Ethics-in-Practice Framework
Objective 2:
Develop and validate the Ethics-in-Practice Framework for Educators and Students to enable structured ethical reflection and strengthen capacity for the responsible, values-driven use of digital tools—especially generative AI—in teaching and learning. The Framework will support educators and students in understanding the ethical risks and opportunities of digitalization and will be tailored for inclusive, context-sensitive implementation.
Objective 3:
Support transferability and dissemination across institutions. To foster the institutionalization of ORRI-aligned practices beyond the pilot context, this objective will prioritize active dissemination and engagement with external stakeholders and networks. The aim is to ensure broad reach, strategic stakeholder involvement, and effective applicability of the developed tools and practices across diverse higher education settings.
PROJECT ACTIVITIES:
PROJECT RESULTS:
RE-IMAGINE tool, Transferability guidelines for use in other higher education institutions
PROJECT TEAM:
Responsible tEerritories and Institutions eNable and Foster Open Research and nclusive innovation for traNsitions Governance. REINFORCING supports organizations and institutions in Europe to transition to a new paradigm where responsibility and openness drive research and innovation processes. The Open and Responsible Research and Innovation (ORRI) approach promotes collaborative efforts. From sharing research outputs as early as possible to engaging citizens in co-creation processes, R&I should be open to the whole society. To support this change, REINFORCING has ring-fenced funding to invite institutions from around Europe to develop projects aiming at implementing new modes of doing R&I that drive more just transitions.
Belgrade Metropolitan University (BMU) is a modern institution with diverse bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD programs, along with lifelong learning opportunities. BMU emphasizes e-learning and innovative teaching methods, with active research centers in e-learning and software development, contributing to projects in personalized and online learning.
Academic Experts:
Dr. Dragan Domazet – Professor Emeritus and BMU founder
Dr. Vladimir Vuković – Associate Professor, Faculty of Information Technology
Dr. Emilija Mančić – Assistant Professor, Faculty of Foreign Languages, Project coordinator
Academic Assistant:
Dr. Jelena Štefan – Teaching Asistant, Faculty of Foreign Languages
Support Staff:
Olga Pavlović – Project Administrator
Srboljub Dekić – Web developer/Graphic designer dedicated to the project tool’s visual development.
Adriatic University is a contemporary higher education institution offering a wide range of undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs across multiple faculties. It is committed to modern teaching methods, international cooperation, and practice-oriented learning, fostering research, innovation, and strong links with industry and the regional community.
PARTNER:
University Adriatik Bar (UA)
Dr. Irena Petrušić, Professor at the Faculty of Management and Dean of UA
Dr. Nikola Abramović, Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Business Economics and Law and Head of International Relations
CONTACT US:
You can reach us at the mail: reimagine@metropolitan.ac.rs
