The Department of Geography of the University of the Aegean (Greece) hosted twelve students from Palacký University in Olomouc (Czechia) from September 14 to October 14, 2025. The cooperation between the two universities aimed to support pre-service teacher education through experience-based learning in real educational settings. At the beginning...
Rik Huizinga 20-10-2026 I am working hard to provide a space for multiple values and perspectives in the classroom, but as a teacher what do I do with my own values and perspectives? This question was often raised during the Active Citizenship Compass (ACC) international project meeting...
There is a magical moment in the life of almost every Dutch child when all layers of society still share the same stage. That moment is called the end-of-primary-school musical. For one final time, future doctors, plumbers, artists, and policy advisors perform side by side, singing “We are...
Can a student studying Biology reflect on civic and ethical rights through subjects like Art Education or French? At our school, we believe not only that it is possible, but also that it is essential. Interdepartmental work in public schools has become a key tool...
In schools across democratic nations, pupils are taught about citizenship, civic engagement, and the importance of standing up for what they believe in. They are encouraged to be active participants in society, to defend justice, and to protect the vulnerable. Yet, recent developments in legislation...
We are living through a watershed moment in democracy’s history. Young people, particularly those who have grown up glued to screens, are increasingly skeptical of democratic values. It is not just a coincidence; this shift is deeply tied to how we use (and misuse) technology,...
Let’s take action : Empowering Our Youth Through Active Citizenship Active citizenship is more than a concept, it’s a call to action. As educators, parents, and school leaders, we have the responsibility to inspire the next generation to not only dream of a better future but to actively...
Protesteren kun je leren (‘learning to protest’) Rik Huizinga In a series of protests across various university cities in the Netherlands, my university is next, the University of Utrecht. For one whole day, university employees are going on strike in this national relay strike, and are protesting...
In an era of increasing division, it is crucial to reflect on how we address polarization, particularly within education. This issue impacts everyone and demands reflection, dialogue, and action. To support teachers in managing polarization in their classrooms, we have compiled some valuable materials. This...
/*! elementor - v3.18.0 - 04-12-2023 */ .elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}ADDRESSING ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP IN THE CLASSROOM Potentials and challenges The Spanish educational system, within the framework of European teachings, has faced for decades the vital challenge of shaping active citizens capable of giving meaning and...
/*! elementor - v3.18.0 - 04-12-2023 */ .elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}Grey, grey, grey Too much concrete at school created a colourless environment. Pupils, teachers and experts started thinking about this problem and came up with some ideas.Green, green, greenOur dream is to make SJABI's...
/*! elementor - v3.18.0 - 04-12-2023 */ .elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}Reflecting on my own active citizenship After starting our project on active citizenship, I've been reflecting on my own role as an active citizen. Am I an active citizen myself? What do I expect...
/*! elementor - v3.18.0 - 04-12-2023 */ .elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}Izmir University - Türkiye With the aim of contributing to raise teachers’ and students’ awareness on AC and on the value of democracy, diversity and unity in Europe, ACC project partners came together for...
/*! elementor - v3.18.0 - 04-12-2023 */ .elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px} Democracy matters Among the purposes that a project like ACC needs to address, a very important one is encouraging a civic conscience that would enable our youth to sensibly negotiate the very real risk...
/*! elementor - v3.18.0 - 04-12-2023 */ .elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}What is active citizenship? – learning from different people and places. Starting from the coast of LesbosFrom this Friday onwards, the Active Citizenship Compass (ACC) project team will settle down in Mytilini,...
/*! elementor - v3.18.0 - 04-12-2023 */ .elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}Citizenship on holidays: embracing the summer Summer holidays are here, bringing a well-deserved break for both students and teachers. However, the arrival of free time prompts another reflection on what it means to be...
/*! elementor - v3.18.0 - 04-12-2023 */ .elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}Active Citizenship across Europe: a comparative analysis The first project work year is going by fast! Over the past months, the project focus was on work package two: Active Citizenship across Europe: a comparative...
/*! elementor - v3.18.0 - 04-12-2023 */ .elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}Music School Mytilene Presentation and European actions MSM is a public school (lower and high secondary) which, in addition to the general education courses offered by all Greek public schools, offers music education. These...
/*! elementor - v3.18.0 - 04-12-2023 */ .elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px} Student Communities and Student Councils: A stage for Active Citizenship Citizenship education has become a priority of European educational policy, influencing the national educational priorities and reforms of EU member states. The philosophy behind...
/*! elementor - v3.18.0 - 04-12-2023 */ .elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}Learning To Become Active Citizens In today's democratic societies, the concept of active citizenship is gaining increasing importance. Active citizenship refers to the participation of individuals in social, political, and economic processes. This participation...
/*! elementor - v3.18.0 - 04-12-2023 */ .elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}Exploring Active Citizenship: Insights from the Second Transnational Meeting in Brussels In the heart of Europe, Brussels became the hub for the second transnational meeting of our Erasmus+ project on Active Citizenship. Hosted by...
/*! elementor - v3.18.0 - 04-12-2023 */ .elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}The ACC Team from Palacký University in Olomouc Alena JůvováAlena's research expertise lies in enhancing the soft skills of educators and advancing teacher training methodologies. Her scholarly pursuits encompass vital competencies for teachers and...
/*! elementor - v3.18.0 - 04-12-2023 */ .elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}About Palacký University in Olomouc Palacký University in Olomouc was founded in 1573 and is therefore the second oldest university in the Czech Republic. Eight faculties of Palacký University have almost 23 thousand students...
/*! elementor - v3.18.0 - 04-12-2023 */ .elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}Educating citizens of today and tomorrow: the challenge of citizenship in the classrooms Teaching the importance of the concept of citizenship to children and adolescents is a challenge for the educational system of any...
/*! elementor - v3.18.0 - 04-12-2023 */ .elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}Empowering youth voices and nurturing democratic values Not long after the ACC project’s kick-off meeting last November, we at team UCA were greeted by the news that our city would be holding the first...
/*! elementor - v3.18.0 - 04-12-2023 */ .elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}It all starts with a Spark ‘It all starts with a Spark’ was one of the conclusions of our kick-off weekend in Leeuwarden of the Erasmus+ ACC project in January 2024. Jeppe Kok, former...
/*! elementor - v3.18.0 - 04-12-2023 */ .elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}Meet the team KU Leuven ...
/*! elementor - v3.18.0 - 04-12-2023 */ .elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px} I empathise, I participate, I communicate [vc_row css_animation="" row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" angled_section="no" text_align="left" background_image_as_pattern="without_pattern" z_index=""][vc_column el_class="align-flex-center"][vc_column_text]Written by Rik Huizinga (University Utrecht)[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation="" row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" angled_section="no" text_align="left" background_image_as_pattern="without_pattern"][vc_column][vc_column_text]Empathy, participation and communication form three...