Teaching EU Values in Schools through European programs during COVID-19 pandemic. The “Teachers4Europe: setting an Agora for Democratic Culture” Program


Foteini Asderaki
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6776-8856
Olga Sideri
Abstract
The establishment of the European Education Area is fundamental for the development of the European Union of Values. The importance of education is the basis of active citizenship and fundamental values that should lie at the heart of the EU as stated in the Paris Declaration 2015, the EU Leaders’ Agenda at the Social Summit for Fair Jobs and Growth in Gothenburg, 2017 and the new EU strategic agenda 2019-2014. In order to achieve this goal, special attention must be paid to human resources, especially teachers, who, as the main pillars of education, are the key-actors to promote European values. This policy brief outlines the importance of teaching EU values in a digital environment due to Covid-19 pandemic era. “Teachers4Europe setting an Agora for Democratic Culture” program establishes a European network of teachers. Teachers4Europe network challenge is to become the driving force for the promotion of the EU values even in times of social distancing. A prerequisite for promoting EU values lies in the continuous training of teachers and students on issues related to the EU, the reshaping of the curricula, the enhancement of digital skills and digital literacy to advance civic competences and the participation in European programs. The flexibility of European programs offers the opportunity to teachers and students to interact with their peers and stakeholders through e-conferences, e-schools and online lessons. Through this process, effective policy proposals and good practices would emerge, while at the same time alternative forms of education will be established in cases of global crisis as the Covid 19 pandemic.
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Author Biographies
Foteini Asderaki, University of Piraeus
Foteini Asderaki is Associate Professor at the University of Piraeus, Jean Monnet Chair on European Union’s Education, Training, Research and Innovation Policies, Academic Coordinator-Erasmus KA3 2018 – 2021 / “Teachers4Europe: setting an Agora for Democratic Culture” (2018-2021), Chair of the European Security and Defense College Doctoral School on CSDP/European External Action Service (2019-2021).
Olga Sideri, University of Piraeus
Olga Sideri holds an Msc in International and European Policies in Education, Training and Research from the University of Piraeus.
References
Bellamy, R. (2008). Citizenship, “A Very Short Introduction”. New York: Oxford University Press.
Council Recommendation (2018a). Promoting common values, inclusive education, and the European dimension of teaching ST/9010/2018/INIT, OJ C 195, 7.6.2018.
Council Recommendation (2018b) Key competences for lifelong learning (Text with EEA relevance.) ST/9009/2018/INIT, OJ C 189, 4.6.2018
Erasmus+ KA3 “Teachers 4 Europe: Setting an Agora for Democratic Culture” (2018 - 2021). “Needs Assessment Report for Stakeholders”, Chapter 3.2: “European Values at Risk”, Page:9, edited by Leibniz University Hannover.
European Commission (2018). Communication on the Digital Education Action Plan COM/2018/022 final, 17.1.2018.
Symeonidis V. (2018). Revisiting the European teacher education area: the transformation of teacher education policies and practices in Europe. CEPS Journal 8 (3): 13- 34.