Reimagining Creative Democracy Erasmus Project

Project Title

Reimagining Creative Democracy

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for higher education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2018

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Civic engagement / responsible citizenship; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; Creativity and culture

Project Summary

Democracy is a key pillar of the European project with historical, institutional frameworks. Many European democracies seem to be in crisis, yet this contradicts the engagement of young people in local, concrete projects for societal change and the notion that democracy as a ‘living’ ideal is redefined and renegotiated by each generation in response to the conditions of today. This situation challenges educators to reconsider how education prepares young people to participate in democracy as citizens are key policy makers. The objectives are to:
1. increase student teachers’ critical understanding of democracy, diversity, education and the conditions that enable and undermine democratic participation,
2. prepare student teachers to build connections between formal, non- and in-formal education, to listen to and draw on different voices to co-create democratic educational communities,
3. implement innovative, cross-disciplinary teaching and research methodologies supporting democratic participation in education,
4. design resources, materials and activities for pre- and in-service democratic teacher education
5. develop a network of educators and educational stakeholders invested in education for democracy

The eight partners represent expertise in drama and arts-based education, the history of education, adventure and language pedagogy, cultural and social geography, teacher development, experiential learning, intercultural education and democracy education. Direct project participants include at least 2-3 staff and 5-10 student teachers from each institution, in-service teachers at Mulitplier event 150 participants through both local focus groups and international multiplier events, plus an exponential number of pupils through years of service.

Key activities included intensive programmes and multiplier events using cross-disciplinary methodologies promoting critical reflections, pedagogical action and democratic engagement. Experience from earlier projects (InOut, TIAC, Proteus) suggests that broadening teachers’ pedagogic repertoires, awareness and understanding of democracy and diversity enables young people to respond to and take responsibility for the conditions of education. ReCreaDe focuses on interactions between formal education inside school spaces and non-/in-formal education outside school and how interactions form the conditions for democracy. Participant input and feedback has been used to develop the course, materials and activities.

Central project outputs include:
1. cross-disciplinary, innovative resources to support democratic practice in education
2. a website as an online repository for student work, study materials, teaching resources and a posssible meeting point for educators seeking to develop democracy in education
3. awareness-raising tools including evocative reports and research-based publications targeting relevant journals in languages represented by project partners
4. Reflective accounts from student and staff participants based on ReCreaDe dialogues providing genuine voices in the wider dialogue and authentic material for further development.
5. preparing more than 50 student teachers to work as democratic professionals and key members of educational communities, enriching their pedagogical repertoires regarding education for democracy

The envisaged impact includes:
1. developing the research and pedagogical expertise of ReCreaDe participants through cross-disciplinary initiatives
2. establishing a cross-disciplinary education for democracy network for pre- and in-service educators furthering cooperation at local, regional, national and European levels
3. a contribution to teacher development through existing or standalone courses at partner and other European teacher education institutions.
4. raising awareness and understanding of education for democracy and methodological support for in-service teachers
5. sustaining positive attitudes towards diversity among stakeholders and decision makers in respective regional and national educational systems.

Longer term benefits include:
1. the increased capacity and professionalism of ReCreaDe participants to work at local and regional levels, as well as at EU/international levels through their net-working and experience of the project
2. instigating innovative approaches for addressing the democracy and diversity at different levels of education
3. facilitating the integration of neglected groups as members of democratic society
4. preparing common ground for transnational European teacher education by embedding democracy within European identity.

Project Website

https://www.recreade-erasmus.eu/

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 247800 Eur

Project Coordinator

LINKOPINGS UNIVERSITET & Country: SE

Project Partners

• JYVASKYLAN YLIOPISTO
• UNIVERSITY OF CHESTER
• Pädagogische Hochschule Wien
• EOTVOS LORAND TUDOMANYEGYETEM
• EUROPA-UNIVERSITAT FLENSBURG
• TARTU ULIKOOL
• UNIVERSIDAD DE MALAGA