<< Background >>From an international perspective, which recognises the great importance of skills and competences acquired through Higher Education, the role of universities is increasingly important, becoming a key element for the future of Europe (European Commission, 2006). In fact, this issue is framed in a WHO directive (2020) calling on governments to focus on the training of health workers (Nursing and Midwifery), reinforced by the International Year of Health and Care Workers (YHCW), designated by the WHO (2021) in view of the current SARS-Covid-19 pandemic. If we focus on sexual competence, it stands out that, in the teaching and learning process in Higher Education, in part of the countries of the southern fringe of the European Union (EU) (Spain, Italy, Portugal), there is a standardised curricular dimension guided by a behaviourist line based on a biological vision. Even the theoretical and clinical teaching of sexuality is approached from a reproductive health perspective. If one takes into account that the factors that influence sexuality are also sociocultural, the need for sexual competence training with a more holistic vision becomes evident.This is why this project is requested, as it aims to carry out a cross-cultural and multidisciplinary training approach with the introduction of a comprehensive sexuality education model in Higher Education. Furthermore, it contributes to strengthen this in other social fields (youth associations, women and immigrants), bringing new visions in the field of sexual competence beyond our borders and to the modernisation of sexual education in the socio-health field. The transnational approach becomes a basic requirement, promotes intercultural dialogue and enables awareness of a new Europe enriched by different cultures. In line with goal 5 of the UN Agenda (2030) our project aims to train in sexuality education to achieve gender equality by empowering women and girls. In fact, the EU and the UN promote the Spotlight initiative (2020), which aims to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls in line with the project. In addition, the pandemic caused by Covid-19, has unbalanced the gender balance, so it is of utmost importance to include this issue.In order to frame the approach to the needs of the project, it is subdivided according to the actors involved in the project:1- For students: increasing knowledge; enhancing critical thinking; acquiring intercultural awareness/practical skills and constant practice; opening up to sexual, social, gender and cultural diversity by fostering a sense of belonging to the EU;2- For teachers: increase sexual skills/competences; use innovative pedagogical approaches focusing on students, migrants, women and young people, face-to-face/distance at international level; possibility of comparison/cooperation with other European universities; 3- For the universities involved in the project: facilitate theoretical/practical sexual competence; possibility of mobility and cooperation between EU partners; develop innovative educational approaches (gamification); produce face-to-face/distance learning formats; strengthen EU inter-university networks.4- For social and cultural groups: promote intercultural rapprochement and respect on a sexual level. Promote critical thinking.5- Degrees in Nursing Universities outside the project: facilitate the free use of distance learning formats on sexuality; promote the development of sexuality education within the European nursing profile.6- Degrees in Higher Education outside the project: facilitate free access to distance learning formats on sexuality.<< Objectives >>It aims to achieve:- To develop sexual competence in Higher Education; fostering a sense of belonging in the EU and discovering its cultural diversity in the field of health.- To develop transnational sexuality education tools by strengthening networks of partners and increasing the capacity to act together at international level.- To promote collective sexual awareness from a multidisciplinary perspective in an integrative way from the European member universities of the project.- To promote multicultural sexual vision in peer-to-peer Higher Education through mobility in European territories.- To generate openness to sexual diversity, understanding, dialogue with sexual, social, linguistic and cultural diversity.- To use innovative student-centred pedagogical approaches to sexuality (gamification), with shared recognition of acquired references, in line with the European portfolio (Bologna Process, 2015); -Produce multilingual distance learning formats on sexuality, gender and multiculturalism.<< Implementation >>The project is divided into the following activity blocks: A.- Activity Block 1: (Research Study/Analysis):Quantitative and qualitative study is carried out.1) Quantitative study: the aim is for students (1st, 2nd and 3rd year) to complete the Survey of Attitudes and Beliefs about Sexuality (SABS) validated from English to Spanish, Portuguese and Italian by this working group. The aim: to find out the needs and shortcomings of the students of the partner universities and the partner university with regard to the subject of the study.2) Qualitative study: the aim is to investigate the difficulties of teachers (theoretical/practical) in dealing with the sexual dimension of the patient. Since this difficulty emerges in the literature, this study is necessary. The approach of this study will be multicentre, observational. Data will be collected through semi-structured interview. This block involves a face-to-face training activity for teachers from the partner universities in the hospital qualitative research unit of reference at Unimore (Italy). The partner university will participate via Teams.B.- Activity block 2 addressed to Higher Education (HE): Block 01: - Module 1: Covert Sexual Violence: Behind Sexual Consent, April (2022). Seattle delivered via Teams (by teachers, experts on the topic), to all students (Partner and Associate Universities).- Module 2: Sexual Diversity: Validating emotions from sexuality, May (2022). Face-to-face in each of the partner universities, taught by teachers, experts on the subject.Block 02: A face-to-face training activity will be carried out in the sexuality unit (Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos-HNP), for students and teaching staff from all the partner universities. The partner university will carry it out by Teams.- Modules 4: Functional diversity lived from sexuality. October (2022). Via Teams Italy will be taught to all students (partner and associate universities).- Module 5: Migrant cultures: looking at sexuality from a transcultural perspective. Presential in each of the partner universities.C.- Activity block 3 (EC):Block 01: - Module 3: aimed at community training. It will contain 3 activities, one per group (women, immigrants and youth). March/April/May 2022. Face-to-face at each of the Partner universities. Seattle will carry out this activity (March), aimed at women. Block 02: - Module 6: aimed at community building. It will contain 3 activities, one per group (women, immigrants and youth). October/November/December 2022. Face-to-face at each of the Partner universities. Seattle will carry out this activity (December), aimed at young people. D.- Activity Block 4 (Training Guide): to facilitate the acquisition of sexual competence, with a corresponding format applying interactive tools (Toolkit). It can be downloaded from the EdSex website, used by university teachers and interested persons. The activity blocks will contribute to the use and dissemination of innovative pedagogical approaches, focusing on a new formative vision of sexuality for the student body and community, in line with the European portfolio (Bologna Process, 2015). Furthermore, it will help to develop and give permanence to the transnational tools implemented in this sexuality education project after the end of the project. It will be available in English, Portuguese, Italian and Spanish. It will be used by all member countries and stakeholders.<< Results >>RESULT 1. Research study and analysis: it is necessary to visualise the real existing needs. In such a way that, before the implementation of the project, it will inform the research team of the possible contents and practices to be developed within higher education. It is intended to produce a research report, which will consist of:a) Quantitative study using the Survey of Attitudes and Beliefs on Sexuality (SABS) validated from English to Spanish, Portuguese and Italian by the partner universities. It will be carried out with the courses (1st, 2nd, 3rd) involved in the study. Students from the partner and guest universities will complete the survey. The results will be analysed and processed by the University of Unimore (Italy), which will produce a document reflecting the state of sexual competence.b) Qualitative study, being the University of Unimore (Italy) the manager of this result, with the joint participation of the partner universities and the invited university. The interview will be carried out with both theoretical and practical teachers belonging to hospitalisation, primary health care and socio-sanitary devices, without forgetting school nursing. The data will be collected with the prior consent of the participants, eliminating their identification, and will be processed by the Atlas-Ti programme. 9.RESULT 2.- REA-EdSex: Higher Education: hosted within the Web-EdSex platform. The University of Castilla-La Mancha will manage the contents to be included and will advise on their development, following consensus with all participating/invited universities. Two blocks:Block 01: 1st Training Module: Covert Sexual Violence: Behind Sexual Consent; April 2022: delivered by expert teaching staff from the invited university in Seattle to all partners (via Teams).2nd Training Module: Sexual Diversity: Validating Emotions through Sexuality; May 2022: delivered by each partner university. Expert teachers will be available to carry out the planned activities. Block 02: 4th Training Module: Functional Diversity experienced through sexuality; October 2022: delivered by Reggio Emilia staff to all partners (through the Teams). 5th Training Module: Migrant Cultures: looking at sexuality from a cross-cultural perspective; November 2022: delivered by each partner university. Expert faculty/staff will be available to carry out the planned activities.RESULT 3-REA-EdSex: Community (youth, immigrant and women's associations), hosted within the EdSex Web platform. The University of Évora will manage the contents to be included and will assess the development of this, following consensus with all the participating universities and the invited university. It will be developed by all the partner universities by teachers/experts in the topics covered/participating students who wish to collaborate in community training:Block 01:3rd Module: Social Perception of sexuality: urban environment; disseminated in the community during March/April/May 2022 (women/immigrants/youth). The invited partner, will develop this aimed at women in the month of March 2022.Block 02:6th Module: Social Perception of sexuality: rural setting; disseminated in the community during October/November/December 2022.The invited partner, will develop this one targeting youth in the month of December 2022.RESULT 4- Training Guide: To be implemented after the development of at least two training modules. The University of Santarém will manage the contents to be included, prior consensus with participating/guest universities. (Hosted by EdSex Web: 1st block: June 2022/2nd block: January 23).