Democracy under pressure
Our current society is facing a challenging social climate that is putting European democratic values under pressure. We are witnessing increasing polarization, fake news and disinformation are spreading rapidly, a growing number of citizens are disengaging from democratic decision-making, etc.
Universities can play an important role in strengthening European democratic values. This includes sharpening critical thinking, the development of democratic citizenship and installing a sense of social engagement among students.
To develop these competences and values, traditional classroom teaching falls short. Strengthening these democratic competences requires active and experiential education, with students actively engaging in the real world.
Service-learning as a lever for democracy
Service-learning is a pedagogical method that links academic knowledge to social challenges. Students step out of the classroom, work together with social organizations and societal actors, and learn by doing how to use their knowledge and skills to serve society.
In this way, students develop skills for active and responsible citizenship and learn how they can make a positive contribution to a sustainable and just society.
How service-learning can strengthen these competences, is the focus of the SL4DC project.
Service-Learning to promote Competences for Democratic Culture
The three-year “SL4DC” project aims to investigate how service learning can strengthen democratic competencies among students and actors in society.
The project will start on 1 November 2025 and end in October 2028.
Three key focus points
The project focuses on three main areas:
- Mapping existing European service-learning practices that strengthen democratic competences of students and societal actors.
- Developing pilot projects and educational materials for combining art and service-learning as a powerful combination for fostering democratic competences.
- Developing pilot projects and educational materials for using service-learning as a method to combat disinformation and polarization.
Project outcomes
SL4DC will result in:
- a report mapping existing European service-learning practices for strengthening democratic competences,
- new teaching materials and training programmes for teachers and community organizations,
- an online repository containing inspiring examples,
- and specific service-learning pilot projects fostering democratic competences.
The partners
The SL4DC project is coordinated by UCSIA and brings together twelve partners from nine European countries, mainly higher education institutions. In addition, several European service-learning networks are also involved, ensuring that the results can be widely disseminated throughout European higher education.
Looking for additional information?
- University Centre Saint-Ignatius Antwerp (UCSIA) – Belgium (coordinator)
- Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam (EUR) – The Netherlands
- European Association of Service-Learning in Higher Education (EASLHE) – Belgium
- Hochschulnetzwerk Bildung durch Verantwortung e.V. (HBdV) – Germany
- Libera Università Maria Ss. Assunta di Roma (LUMSA) – Italy
- Pädagogische Hochschule Wien (PHW) – Austria
- Sveuciliste u Zagrebu (UNIZG) – Croatia
- Università di Bologna (UNIBO) – Italy
- Universitat de les Illes Balears (UIB) – Spain
- Univerzita Mateja Bela v Banskej Bystirci (UMB) – Slovakia
- Universitatea Natională de Știință și Tehnologie Politehnica București (POLITEHNICA) – Romania
- Universiteit Utrecht (UU) – The Netherlands