Project Description

The current model of liberal democracy is being challenged by internal and external factors. Education, and especially Education for Democracy (EfD) promoted by Democrat is to contribute to the defence and enhancement of democracy. This includes the values and principles encompassed within the UN’s 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals. Goal 4.7, in particular, defines that education should promote sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship and appreciation of cultural diversity.

To reinforce the resilience and sustainability of democracy, Democrat aims, through a participatory approach, to elaborate curricula for EfD based on a framework of responsible democratic competences (RDCs), to test them in open, local, innovative learning projects and to develop a toolbox to support the development of transformative EfD practices in the EU and beyond. Democrat’s ambitious research and innovation programme will provide insights into the points of comparison and contrast in EfD in the EU-member states, and will develop an innovative curriculum framework linking RDCs with digitalisation and sustainability. Democrat will test and analyse pedagogical practices and material considering its effectiveness for acquiring democratic competences and European identity with a particular focus on the relation between socio-economic and educational inequalities and political and social participation.