The Council of Europe’s Education Department was invited to deliver the opening keynote at the London Metropolitan University’s annual Student and Staff Research conference, bringing together staff and students to showcase their research.

Addressing the audience, Sarah Keating, Head of the Division for Formal and Non-Formal Education at the Council of Europe, outlined recent developments in European elections and the rise of populism.  She included research on voting trends among youth and gender gaps, characteristics of populism as well as potential consequences on democratic systems and individuals.

As a response, the Council of Europe’s education for democracy programme was presented, including its standards, resources, and political support among its 46 member states.  A lively Q&A session ensued, centred around the importance of the human qualities of the CoE competences for democratic culture and how they can address issues such as inclusion, autonomy, and climate anxiety.

This event is part of the co-creation process of developing the Council of Europe’s European Space for Citizenship Education over the next two years.