{"id":238213,"date":"2026-02-26T08:19:19","date_gmt":"2026-02-26T07:19:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/danilodolci.org\/?p=238213"},"modified":"2026-02-26T08:19:33","modified_gmt":"2026-02-26T07:19:33","slug":"euroconnect-practice-based-civic-education-europe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/danilodolci.org\/en\/news\/euroconnect-practice-based-civic-education-europe\/","title":{"rendered":"EuroConnect: toward a practice-based civic education in Europe"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Democratic systems face growing challenges<\/strong> every year: ranging from political polarisation amplified by social media, to the erosion of human rights and growing inequalities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Europe is not exempt from these dynamics, and responding to them requires approaches that strengthen citizens’ participation <\/strong>in relation to the Union. Yet meaningful participation cannot happen without adequate tools<\/strong>. In what is now an acknowledged complex, interconnected global context, these tools must offer more than just theoretical knowledge of institutions and political processes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is the issue that EuroConnect<\/a><\/strong> aims to address, not only raising the question of which competences are today required for truly meaningful democratic participation<\/strong>, but also introducing more practical approaches to develop them in universities and schools<\/strong>. Therefore, at the core: a critical, participatory approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How?<\/strong> Civic knowledge will be contextualized in the light of today\u2019s most urgent challenges<\/strong> \u2013 including the climate crisis, poverty, and migration \u2013 considered in their intersections, with a focus on the power relations that shape societal systems. Critically understanding the world is the first step toward practising civic competences in a responsible manner. These competences will be developed through non-formal methodologies<\/strong> such as simulations, debates, guided reflections, and collective decision-making exercises. Activities will be connected to the students\u2019 local contexts while also relating to the broader European one, a link that will be fostered through transnational exchanges of reflections and ideas<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The process will participatory in another sense as well: alongside the experience of the project consortium \u2013 the universities of Tartu, Siena, and G\u00f6ttingen, together with the Centro per lo Sviluppo Creativo Danilo Dolci ETS, which has long-standing experience in schools \u2013 students\u2019 feedback, ideas, guidance, and proposals will actively inform the process and the insights generated<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All of this experience will then be collected in a toolkit<\/strong>, to be used not only in universities and schools but also by any educator or practitioner in other contexts, as a resource to reflect on, apply, and further develop civic competences<\/strong> that are essential for addressing the challenges facing democracy today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The project\u2019s kick-off took place in Tartu, Estonia, at the end of November, with partners coordinating their next steps. Updates on the start of activities will follow soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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EuroConnect \u2013 Strengthening Civic Competences and EU Democratic Life<\/a><\/strong> is a project financed by Erasmus+ (KA2- Cooperation partnerships in higher education) with the aim to strengthen young people\u2019s connection to the EU\u2019s democratic life by developing their civic competences and improving their understanding of how to apply them to participate more effectively, using innovative and hands-on methodologies<\/em>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Partners<\/h2>\n\n\n\n