The ERUA travelling seminar “Children on the Move: Developmental Psychology, Inclusion and Air Travel in Europe” was successfully held at the University of the Aegean in Mytilene from 25 to 27 May 2026, in collaboration with SWPS University.
The event brought together academic staff and students from the SWPS University and the University of the Aegean, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration in the fields of developmental psychology, inclusion, and sociology of disability.
The seminar was coordinated by Prof. Anastasia Zissi (University of the Aegean, Department of Sociology) and featured academic contributions from Urszula Kłosińska, PhD, Associate Professor at SWPS University (Faculty of Psychology, Katowice), alongside master’s students Dominika Jasita, Teresa Jasita, Jagoda Sobiegała, and Noemi Strączek.
Academic exchange and collaborative learning
The first session, “Growing Up in Motion” introduced key developmental milestones in early childhood and examined the specific needs of toddlers and preschool-aged children in contexts of mobility and travel. This was followed by the workshop “Flying with Little Ones” where participants collaboratively developed evidence-based recommendations for more child-friendly air travel experiences for neurotypical children.
On 26 May, the program turned to neurodevelopmental conditions in travel settings. The lecture “Attention in Transit” explored the experiences and challenges of preschool children with ADHD, focusing on sensory regulation, attention demands, and the disruption of routines during travel. In the accompanying workshop “ADHD-Friendly Flying” participants co-created practical strategies to enhance predictability, accessibility, and comfort for children with ADHD in aviation environments.
The final day, 27 May, was dedicated to autism and inclusion in air travel. The lecture “Autism and Air Travel” addressed the sensory, communicative, and environmental challenges experienced by preschool children with ASD in airports and on flights. The concluding workshop, “Flying on the Spectrum” focused on designing inclusive and evidence-based recommendations for improving travel experiences for children on the autism spectrum.
European collaboration in action
The seminar brought together academic staff and students from SWPS University in Katowice, Poland, and undergraduate students from the University of the Aegean. Across the three days, approximately 52 undergraduate students from the University of the Aegean participated, alongside visiting faculty and master’s students from SWPS University.
The programme fostered meaningful academic exchange, interdisciplinary dialogue, and applied learning, strengthening collaboration within ERUA and contributing to the development of inclusive, research-informed approaches to mobility and accessibility in Europe.
This ERUA travelling seminar demonstrated the value of combining developmental psychology research with real-world challenges of mobility and inclusion. By engaging students and researchers in co-creative workshops, the event generated practical insights into how air travel can become more accessible and supportive for young children with diverse developmental needs.
The initiative reflects ERUA’s broader mission to promote inclusive education, interdisciplinary collaboration, and socially engaged research across European universities.
