University representatives in Serbia are taking concrete steps to integrate democratic values into higher education. During a three-day meeting in Belgrade, experts identified a model to embed the Council of Europe’s Reference Framework of Competences for Democratic Culture (RFCDC) into undergraduate and master programmes at several universities in the country.

Building on discussions from the first meeting in February 2024, the experts working group, led by professor Michails Kakos from the University of Leeds, focused on aligning Serbian higher education with European standards for democratic education.

Opening the meeting, Vesna Atanasova, head of Unit in the Education Department of the Council of Europe, and Zlatko Grusanovic, director of Institute for Improvement of Education, underscored the essential role of universities in preparing future teachers to uphold democratic values.

Throughout the meeting, participants explored practical approaches to implementing RFCDC, drawing on examples from Leeds Beckett University. Lively discussions led to the adoption of a pilot model tailored to Serbia’s educational context. The piloting courses, set to launch in several Serbian universities, will be the first of their kind in the country. These programs will integrate democratic competences into the curriculum, equipping students with the skills and values needed to uphold democratic principles.

The action “Quality education for all” is part of the joint European Union and Council of Europe programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye”.