Involve to Evolve

Summary

The project was awarded the European Innovative Teaching Award for its innovative approach to fostering democratic citizenship through student involvement and culturally adapted teaching methods. By empowering both teachers and students to co-create inclusive and engaging learning experiences, it effectively addresses social exclusion and promotes active participation. Its strong collaboration across Scandinavian countries, combined with the integration of research and practice, demonstrates a valuable and impactful contribution to education for democracy and inclusion. 

“Students must develop values, attitudes, knowledge, critical understanding, and skills related to the concept of democracy. This will equip them to meet challenges in society, counteract exclusion, and prevent radicalisation.” 

Topic(s) addressed 

• Inclusion of marginalised young people
• Democracy and inclusive democratic participation
• Bridging the intercultural, intergenerational and social divide

Target group(s)  

• Students, especially those at risk of exclusion
• Teachers

Methodologies used 

The project combines student involvement with democratic citizenship education, grounded in the Council of Europe’s Reference Framework of Competences for Democratic Culture (RFCDC) framework. It expands teachers’ didactic tools by introducing methods that foster inclusion, empathy, and active participation - such as role-plays, discussions, student-led workshops, presentations, and writing exercises. 

This collaborative and reflective process empowers both teachers and students to co-create meaningful learning experiences that bridge formal and informal settings, promote diversity, and support democratic values and learner ownership. 

Innovation environment 

The project’s innovation lies in developing new teaching methods that integrate student influence at the organisational level. While citizenship education within individual subjects is common, the project introduces a deliberate interdisciplinary and whole-school approach, which is relatively new. This approach produces results that are more transferable and strengthens the connection between schools and the societies students belong to. 

The learning environments foster student involvement and democratic engagement, positioning classrooms as spaces where diverse voices are heard through role-play, discussions, and reflective writing. 

Teachers’ role 

Teachers played a central role in shaping innovative teaching and learning processes by co-developing interdisciplinary, student-led didactic tools in collaboration with researchers and students. Through cross-national exchanges and participation in research circles, they reflected on democratic competence and tested new methods to address exclusion, participation, and controversial issues in the classroom. Their active involvement ensured that the tools were both grounded in practice and adaptable to different educational contexts. 

Impact and output 

The project introduced student-led teaching approaches that enhanced democratic competence, engagement, and inclusion. It specifically aimed to involve students with fewer opportunities by creating safe spaces for participation and self-expression. Students gained valuable experience in voicing their opinions, leading workshops, and designing lessons. Meanwhile, teachers strengthened their skills in citizenship education through research circles and peer collaboration across countries.

Learn more about the project