AUEB, Me Alla Matia & NESCAFÉ®: How Corporate Sponsorship Translated into Social Impact

Photos: © MOS RIS

The discussion around accessibility at Greek universities usually begins with rights and ends with shortcomings. Rarely, however, does it result in concrete projects. The collaboration between the Athens University of Economics and Business (AUEB), Me Alla Matia NPO and the NESCAFÉ® coffee brand is one of the few examples where this discussion has been transformed into physical infrastructure that changes the everyday experience of disabled academic staff, employees and students.

For many years, most Greek universities have addressed accessibility in a fragmented way, due to a lack of funding, gaps in legislation and organisational shortcomings specifically concerning disabled students. There may be a lift, but no appropriately adapted toilet. There may be a ramp at the entrance, but no means of wayfinding for people with visual impairments. There may be some support services, but no safe routes through the building.

AUEB already had an important foundation in place. The University had begun developing support services for disabled students and accessibility mechanisms within the educational process through its newly established Equal Access Unit. However, significant needs remained in terms of the physical infrastructure. The condition of the buildings created a chain of barriers, as a single defective or missing ‘link’ is enough to break the entire ‘accessibility chain’.

The three partners & their roles

More specifically, AUEB Vice-Rector and Associate Professor Eleanna Galanaki, Chair of the Equal Access Unit, together with her colleagues, recognised that equal access concerns not only the educational process but also the physical environment of the institution. For this reason, they collaborated with Me Alla Matia NPO to identify needs and implement accessibility interventions.

For years, the NPO has acted as a bridge between organisations and the disability community. Through focus groups involving disabled people and people facing access barriers, it delivers educational programmes and accessibility consultancy services. As part of this collaboration, it undertook an accessibility assessment of the 📍 University’s main building on Patission Avenue and designed appropriate solutions.

At the same time, Me Alla Matia connected NESCAFÉ® with AUEB to secure funding for the most urgent interventions identified as necessary following the assessment. In parallel, as part of its commitment to a better future for disabled people in Greece through equal opportunities, the NESCAFÉ® brand incorporated the initiative into a wider inclusion programme. Its initiatives include adding Braille to NESCAFÉ® Classic packaging, collaborating with the Greek start-up Pop2See to make product information accessible to people with visual impairments, improving the accessibility of its advertising and raising disability awareness among the company’s employees.

Tactile Paving

The accessibility assessment process

The detailed accessibility assessment of the built environment included:

1. Mapping physical barriers:

• entrances and exits,
• changes in level,
• staircases,
• communal areas,
• circulation routes,
• sanitary facilities,
• the restaurant,
• student service points.

🎯 The aim was to identify every point at which a disabled person might encounter barriers.

2. Participation of disabled people: One of the most significant aspects was the participatory approach. In line with the philosophy that Me Alla Matia NPO has consistently followed, the assessment was based not only on technical specifications and a theoretical review of legislation, but also on lived experience. This makes it possible to identify problems that are often overlooked during a conventional technical inspection. The result is a prioritised list of costed actions based on real needs.

3. Collaboration with the Accessibility Unit: AUEB’s Accessibility Unit served as the institutional mechanism connecting students’ everyday needs with the technical interventions. It brings together users’ experiences, support requests and issues that arise in practice. Collaboration between the Unit, Me Alla Matia NPO and the University administration also contributed to the development of the final list of interventions.

Lifting platforms

Accessible WC

The interventions implemented

Thanks to the financial sponsorship secured from the NESCAFÉ® brand, the agreed funding programme included a series of specific projects:

1. Tactile paving – first pilot route: The tactile paving enables people with visual impairments to navigate independently and safely from the entrances to the reception area and the Equal Access Unit office, where they can access the relevant support.

2. Two new accessible toilets: Accessible sanitary facilities are a fundamental prerequisite for participation in university life. Without them, remaining at the University for several hours may become practically impossible for some people. The new facilities were constructed to replace the unsuitable accessible toilets previously available on the premises.

3. Lifting platforms: Lifting platforms were installed at locations where changes in level created barriers and no step-free alternative was available, including the historic Antoniadou Hall.

4. Stair-climbing devices: These are specialised devices that enable people with mobility impairments to be transported on staircases where no other technical solution is available.

5. Wheelchairs: Having wheelchairs available on site helps address emergency needs and facilitates temporary support for people experiencing mobility barriers.

6. Evacuation chairs: In the event of a fire or earthquake, evacuation chairs enable people with mobility impairments to be evacuated safely from the buildings.

Wheelchairs, evacuation chairs & stair-climbing devices

The final result?

A University that enables more people to participate equally in academic life.