Council of Europe

School-community-university Partnerships for a Sustainable Democracy: Education for Democratic Citizenship in Europe and the United States of America Council of Europe

This guide examines how schools and universities can work together with their local communities to promote democracy in society based on the principles of Education for Democratic Citizenship (EDC), a concept developed by the Council of Europe. Partnerships based on this idea foster civic skills and values in citizens and build the civic capacity of communities through the pursuit of collective solutions to local problems. The guide explores the mechanics of such partnerships in practice, describing how they are built and sustained, and what makes them work. Drawing on examples from Europe and the United States of America, the guide is intended for policy makers and practitioners in schools and universities, civil society and community groups, and representatives of public authorities and government bodies on both sides of the Atlantic.