Activities
The mission of the Observatory is to provide a clear picture of the state of history teaching, based on reliable data and facts on how history is taught, through general and thematic reports in all countries of the Enlarged Partial Agreement (EPA).
The Observatory also serves as a platform for cooperation with partner institutes and European professional associations. The sections below provide more details on the Observatory's main activities:
General Report
These longitudinal studies examine how history is taught from a myriad of angles, using a methodology crafted and approved by the Observatory’s Scientific Advisory Council (SAC).
The OHTE Reports on the State of History Teaching in Europe (or general reports in short) are drafted by an expert group made up of academics and history teachers in close co-operation and co-ordination with the SAC.
The First General Report on the State of History Teaching in Europe was released in 2023.
More on the OHTE Report on the State of History Teaching in Europe 
Thematic Report
The Observatory conducts thematic studies exploring certain issues relative to history teaching in more depth. The choice of subjects considers the priorities of the Council of Europe, as well as issues which are particularly urgent and pertinent in the nowadays European societies.
These thematic reports are drafted by a group of experts, in close co-operation with the Observatory’s Scientific Advisory Council (SAC) and using the methodology crafted and approved by the SAC.
Thematic Report on “Pandemics and natural disasters as reflected in history teaching” (2022)
Thematic Report on "Economic crises in history education" (2024)
More on the OHTE Thematic Reports
Co-operation Platform
The Observatory serves as a unique platform connecting several competent institutions, organisations and networks in the field of history education. The HISTOLAB project plays a key role in this regard, enhancing innovation in history education through co-operation. The project counts on several distinguished institutions in the field as partners, such as:
European Association of History Educators (EuroClio)
Federation for Education in Europe (FEDE)
House of European History (HEH)
International Society for History Didactics (ISHD)
Leibniz Institute for Educational Media | Georg Eckert Institute
The OHTE Annual Conference, which served as the starting shot for HISTOLAB, complements and reinforces these co-operation activities.
More on HISTOLAB and the Annual Conference
