EPAN members met online from 19-20 November to start the co-creation of the European Space for Citizenship Education, an initiative in which democratic values and principles are promoted in and through quality citizenship education in Europe. Discussions included how to improve quality citizenship education through enhanced co-operation between countries, the need for different types of co-operation – from policy to regional to grassroots levels - and how new collaborative practices using digital tools among EPAN members can inspire educational reforms. The EPAN members also underscored the need for a communication strategy to demonstrate how the European Space can be helpful for policy makers, teachers and learners and make democracy relatable, appealing, and accessible, especially for the younger generation.
The meeting also provided an opportunity for the Secretariat to share updates on other initiatives in the Education Department, including the guidance documents on vocational education and training as well as education for sustainable development, a toolkit for an inclusive and democratic school culture, co-operation programmes and the 2025 European Year of Digital Citizenship Education.
Created in 2018, the Education Policy Advisors Network (EPAN) was established to support education authorities in the Council of Europe member states to promote democracy and human rights in education using the Reference Framework of Competences for Democratic Culture (RFCDC), adapted to each context.
The Network gathers representatives from public authorities responsible for furthering democratic culture in education policy and practice appointed by the Governments of the States Parties to the European Cultural Convention. It functions under the auspices of the CoE Steering Committee for Education (CDEDU).
