In today's global landscape, citizenship education has become essential in preparing pupils to become active, responsible, and engaged members of their communities and societies. Citizenship education empowers pupils to understand their rights and responsibilities, value diversity, engage in democratic processes, and contribute positively to society. The rapidly changing social and political climate, along with the rise of misinformation, intolerance, and disengagement from civic life, makes it imperative for schools to prioritise such education.

The Council of Europe's charter on education for democratic citizenship and human rights education emphasizes that education should equip learners with the knowledge, skills, and understanding necessary to play an active role in democratic life and exercise their rights and responsibilities in society. Furthermore, the Eurydice report on citizenship education at school in Europe highlights that citizenship education is increasingly recognised as a priority in European education systems, aiming to strengthen social cohesion and promote a culture of active participation and responsibility among young people.  As highlighted in the eTwinning School Mission, eTwinning Schools emphasise collaboration, inclusion, digital literacy, and active student participation in learning, all of which are crucial for building responsible and engaged citizens.

By emphasising citizenship education, eTwinning Schools can inspire pupils to take ownership of their role in society, advocate for positive change, and develop the competencies required to contribute to a more just, inclusive, and sustainable world.

Goals of the conference

This conference aims to strengthen the capacity of eTwinning Schools to promote citizenship education and empower pupils as active participants in their learning and civic life. The conference will bring together school leaders and experienced teachers working in eTwinning Schools to explore strategies and share best practices for integrating citizenship education into the school culture.

In this conference, participants will:

• reflect on the pedagogical principles of the eTwinning School Mission and their connection to citizenship education.
• deepen their understanding of how citizenship education contributes to student empowerment and personal growth.
• explore effective methodologies for teaching citizenship education, such as project-based learning, collaborative projects, and digital literacy initiatives.
• investigate how emphasising student agency in civic education can lead to greater engagement and positive community impact.
• study strategies to promote inclusivity, democratic participation, and critical thinking within the school environment.
• share successful practices and examples from eTwinning Schools where citizenship education is already part of the school culture.
• share best practices and practical examples where student agency is part of the school culture.
• find partners to work on projects with citizenship education elements, following a whole-school approach (school teams working together).

Join us on 16 May at 15:00 CET and click here to watch the live sessions of this eTwinning conference.