Projects

Short Description:

Overall goal

The overall objective of the project is to contribute to sustaining the democratisation process and enhancing conflict sensitivity in the Western Balkans through reforms and implementation of changes in the formal schooling system that will intensify democratic education. The project strives to achieve that education authorities and civil society jointly reform education and schools in the region to enhance critical thinking and active citizenship. These two competencies are key drivers of all forms of development, but particularly of the development of a vibrant civil society that is ready to protect and defend democratic values, gender mainstreaming, environmental protection and a culture of non-violent conflict resolution.

Expected results

For achieving this specific objective, the project relies on three interrelated results:

1. New evidence-based curricula reform strategies for history education in particular and social science in general are developed by policy makers and curricula developers. These subject areas develop important competences of students and play a major role in the development of democratic conflict and gender-sensitive mindsets.

2. Increased capacity for training and multiplication at the classroom level, providing for individuals who will be able to act as trainers for peers and who will be able to multiply the competencies for multi-perspective and participative lessons. Eventually this will build the democratic competences of the future generation and equip students with the empathy and the skills necessary for turning complex conflicts into constructive solutions.

3. Joint advocacy and regional cooperation is crucial for nurturing synergies amongst civil society and policy makers on the regional level, putting key actors in the position to share and co-ordinate ongoing support for educators in the field of social science and didactics.

Target group / Beneficiaries

The target groups of the project are at least 10 policy makers on local, national, regional and intergovernmental levels, to connect with 10 curriculum developers, 20 authors, 2,000 teachers, 20 trainers, 20 assessment experts, 20 educational advisors and inspectors, 20 educational staff in museums and institutes, 10 members of professional associations, 20 representatives of parents associations and 6 ministries of education. In the short term, at least an estimated 30,000 primary and secondary school teachers of the region, 2.7 Mio students and their parents are expected to be final beneficiaries, while in the long run the project will have an impact on the whole population, 17.7 Mio citizens, of the target area through improved education policies.

Activities

The planned main activities that support the results are:

• Multi-Stakeholder Needs Assessment

• Standing Working Groups

• Capacity Building, outreach, dissemination and monitoring and evaluation activities.

Wide-ranging training events are planned with different target groups and knowledge sharing via web services and e-learning courses. A regional TV show will add publicity and raise awareness for the project work and a summer school for educators will intensify outcomes.

Context

The project targets the Western Balkans, more specifically those countries that are part of the Pre- Accession-Area. This area shares a common past and a common aim that of accession to the European Union, but the past impedes the democratisation process. Also, due to the economic crisis, the rising unemployment rate correlates with rising nationalist views, which are reinforcing post-conflict tensions.