democracy
What role can companies play in civic education?
As political trust wanes and populism rises, there are calls for Europe’s corporate sector to step up. The Civic Scouts at Work programme empowers employees to promote democracy through civic education in corporate training. Can corporate social responsibility help adult learners cope with policy changes in Europe?
Empowering people with disabilities in politics
A German initiative offers citizenship education to people with disabilities, fostering their active participation in political life. “I've realised what rights I have and that my opinion counts,” says one student.
Empowering peace in the Balkans: Can adult education pave the way?
In the heart of the Balkans, the echoes of the Yugoslav Wars continue to reverberate through the lives of its inhabitants. As the scars of the conflict persist and peacebuilding attempts have often proved unsuccessful, adult education could be a beacon of hope in the region.
How to cultivate the Finnish learning concept of ‘sivistys’
In Finland, 2024 marks the year of 'sivistys', a wide-ranging concept that encompasses education, a broad base of knowledge, and much more. We ask two of Finland’s leading thinkers, Kristiina Brunila and Sixten Korkman, to elaborate.
Adult education and civil society organisations: Learning spaces in times of democratic turbulence
Nils-Eyk Zimmermann, in his column, argues that adult education addressing civic competence and active citizenship should be better supported. According to him, civil society organizations play a key role in bringing about social change and solving problems in societies.
Video gaming against extremism: Tools for peace builders
How can we use edutainment to counter polarisation and resist hate speech in Europe? The director of Radio La Benevolencija, George Weiss, has discovered tools for peace building by producing media edutainment programs.
Nordic view: Peace as a prerequisite to gender equality and human rights
Polarisation is an obstacle to peace and equality, but lifelong learning can play a key role in reducing it, says Prof. Ólafur Páll Jónsson of the University of Iceland’s School of Education.
How the future of civic education could shape the course of democracy in Europe
Civic education is an educational sector that faces great expectations, such as strengthening democratic engagement, but that has scarce resources, says Louisa Slavkova. She is a political scientist specialised in democracy development and civic education.
Development aid a must for building democracy in Palestine
Anne Tastula, in her column, brings attention to an important matter: the allocation of development aid to the Palestinian territories. Concerns about the potential misappropriation of funds and their alleged connection to terrorist groups have raised questions about the sustainability of aid from European countries. However, Tastula emphasizes the imperative need to recognise the crucial role that development aid plays in addressing the stability of the area.
Vocational skills are no longer enough for adult education in Europe
Are vocational skills still enough for adults in the challenging job market? Marcella Milana, professor in education and Chair of the European Society for Research on the Education of Adults, believes that unless we consider adults as citizens first, vocational skills won’t be enough.
