Researcher of MIKI, Luisa Mejia had the privilege of participating in the Doctoral Seminar associated with the Carlos V European Award – European Disability Forum, held at the historic Royal Monastery of Santa María de Guadalupe in Extremadura from December 16-18, 2025.
Along with 9 other researchers, Luisa was honoured to receive the Doctoral Thesis Award within the Carlos V Prize. This recognition brought together doctoral researchers from universities across Europe for the seminar titled “United in Diversity: The Impact of the European Union on the Lives of People with Disabilities.”
Organised by the prestigious Yuste European and Ibero-American Academy Foundation, this event provided a platform for intergenerational and interdisciplinary scientific exchange focused on disability inclusion in Europe. The seminar honored the European Disability Forum, recipient of the 2022 Carlos V European Award, which advocates for the rights of over 100 million people with disabilities across Europe.
Award recipients engaged with leading academics and experts on disability inclusion, contributing to discussions that will be published in the foundation’s ‘Cuadernos de Yuste’ collection. Through the Yuste Foundation scholarships, Luisa Mejia also became member of the Euro-Ibero-American Alumni Network, serving as ambassadors for the foundation’s core values of inclusion, equity, and justice.
This experience reinforced the importance of academic research in shaping a more inclusive European future where the rights and dignity of all people are recognized and protected.
