Fostering active citizenship
The European Innovative Teaching Award celebrates teachers, trainers and educators whose Erasmus+ projects empower learners to participate actively in democratic life, embrace common values, and engage in civic life as part of a whole-school approach.
The theme of the 2025 European Innovative Teaching Award, "Citizenship Education – Participation in Democratic Life, Common Values and Civic Engagement”, is one of the main priorities of the Erasmus+ Programme. It underscores the European Commission’s commitment to building inclusive and resilient societies through education. With polarisation, disinformation, and civic disengagement on the rise, 2025 year’s award celebratedpedagogical approaches that cultivate critical thinking, media literacy, EU awareness, and democratic participation in learners of all ages.
Cultivating citizenship skills from an early age is essential to the future of the European Union. By strengthening learners’ understanding of the EU, fostering a sense of belonging, and encouraging participation in democratic processes, teachers, trainers and educators play a vital role in preparing learners to be informed, critical, and responsible citizens.
The awarded projects highlight the importance of both formal and non-formal education in developing critical thinking, media literacy, and a deep appreciation for Europe’s unity, diversity, and cultural heritage.
The theme also aligns with the European Commission’s recent Action Plan on Basic Skills, which recognises citizenship as a fundamental skill for lifelong learning. The plan calls for schools to prioritise civic competences, equipping young people to contribute to a resilient, cohesive, and democratic society.
In its fifth edition, 117 projects received the European Innovative Teaching Award in 5 categories:
- Early childhood education and care
- School education
- Vocational education and training
- Adult education
- European Language Label
