Transformative experience in civic education NECE Lab

ECEC Network, in collaboration with THE CIVICS Innovation Hub, Znanje na djelu and the Universidade Católica Portuguesa organized The NECE Lab Transformative experience in civic education NECE Lab.

From 9 to 11 March 2026, Lisbon will host the NECE Lab: Transformative experience in civic education, a three-day collaborative space bringing together researchers, educators, and civic education practitioners from across Europe.

Over three days in Lisbon, the Lab brings together researchers and practitioners in a shared space for dialogue—connecting evidence, lived experience, and reflection on practice — to explore what makes civic learning genuinely transformative. The Lab will examine the needs, examples, and opportunities for high-quality civic education in Europe, emphasizing participatory learning, critical reflection, and democratic values. By connecting perspectives from formal and non-formal education, participants will develop a shared language around civic education and identify key ingredients that help initiatives move from good intentions to sustained, long-term impact. Together, these approaches show how transformative civic education can strengthen democratic culture, nurture belonging, and cultivate active, responsible citizens.

Upcoming NECE Lab | Lisbon

9–11 March 2026

The upcoming NECE Lab in Lisbon will explore Transformative Experiences in Civic Education. The Lab will focus on how civic learning can go beyond the transfer of knowledge and instead create meaningful experiences that shape how people engage, develop a sense of belonging, and actively participate in democratic life.