The Civic Innovation Fund (CIF)
04/06/2024
NECE Festival – From the 14th to 17th of November 2024 in Tirana
21/06/2024
On March 20, 2024, the European Civic Education Collaborative Network (ECEC Network) met for its second working session, marking a crucial moment in the ongoing efforts to promote civic education in Europe.
The meeting brought together partners from prestigious institutions such as The Jubilee Center for Character and Virtues at the University of Birmingham (UK), CEPCEP - Centro de Estudos dos Povos e Culturas de Expressão Portuguesa, Portuguese Catholic University (Portugal), IPAO - Institute for Active Citizenship (Slovakia) and Forum MNE (Montenegro), among others. Together with these partners, members of the ECEC Network research and work teams, as well as observers from PORTICUS, contributed valuable ideas and perspectives.
One of the focal points of the meeting was the exploration of the draft conceptual framework, which outlined ten key points on civic education in contemporary society. Partners offered valuable comments and suggestions, emphasizing the importance of integrating formal, informal and non-formal learning contexts. They emphasized the role of community life as a “school for democracy,” advocated for a strong digital literacy component and for enhancing public participation.
They stressed the importance of building bridges between theory and practice to ensure the relevance and effectiveness of educational interventions.
Next steps and future directions
At the conclusion of the meeting, participants outlined several next steps to advance the objectives of the ECEC Network. These included the development of a network website, continued collaboration to identify transformative experiences, and preparations for a final workshop scheduled for next November in Albania in the context of the European civic education, the NECE Festival.
In addition, the partners expressed their interest in exploring funding opportunities to sustain and expand the network's initiatives, underlining their commitment to promoting civic education in Europe.
As the project progresses, ECEC Network remains committed to its vision of promoting civic education as a cornerstone of democracy and citizenship, advocating for transformative educational experiences that empower individuals and communities to actively participate in civic life.
