Connecting Europe through History
Connecting Europe through History (2007-2010)
At present, most nations in Europe count large numbers of citizens whose immigrant or minority families do not share a common historical experience. Many Europeans are worried by the deepening of European integration and the extension of Europe with 'new' countries and have become increasingly xenophobic and intolerant. Historians and history educators face the challenge to deal with the heterogeneous historical culture. They cannot simply create ‘more inclusive’ historical narratives as the diverse student population also introduces different and frequently conflicting perspectives to give meaning to the ‘same’ events. To this respect, “Connecting Europe through History” offers room for multiple perspectives, intercultural dialogue and a European dimension create inclusive histories and lead to mutual understanding, tolerance and peace.
Connecting Europe Through History - Experiences and Perceptions of Migrations
The Project “Connecting Europe through History – Experiences and Perceptions of Migration in Europe” is organised by EUROCLIO, in collaboration with EVROAPEVM, the Association of Ten Leading Universities and the International Students History Associations. This programme is a transnational initiative which aims to enhance mutual understanding among Europe’s citizens, and to share and boost cultural and linguistic diversity by tackling issues linked to movements of people as a common theme in European History.
Through a comparative research on the theme of Migration, the Project aims to profile the different ways in which European countries deal with similar challenges, and to which extent History Education is already part of this process. The results of this comparative research will be discussed during a series of national seminars, workshops and lectures in different countries around Europe, which will bring together prominent historians and researchers from the EVROPAEVM academic network, civil society representatives from the wide network of EUROCLIO National History Teachers Associations and Students of History Education, Culture and Heritage, Economics and Migration Studies from the network of ISHA. This large geographical spread across Europe facilitates the Project’s aim to offer a good insight into the knowledge and interpretation of Migration and Movement bringing Europe closer to the citizens and raise awareness of the trans-national idea. On the Project Website www.connectinghistory.eu the results of the comparative research are published and information about the upcoming events as well as the reports on the ones already taken is available.
Connecting Europe Through History - Human rights in Europe?
Interpreting key moments in the story of European human rights
Human rights, democracy and the rule of law are universally associated with Europe as core values, and today they also form core values of the European Union, and the Council of Europe, and of course the United Nations. Developing an understanding of basic human rights, and what it means to respect them, are therefore both key elements of current education in Europe and also across the world.
Aims
This project aimed first to develop a range of aspects of human rights education over the year through a series of lectures, workshops, meetings, seminars, and an international survey. Its key features are captured in its title, “Human Rights in Europe? Tolerance, Democracy, Citizenship, Critical thinking and Multi-perspectivity as European Values”. A second aim was to track key-moments and documents in European history, in different regions, to be used by history teachers in secondary schools in particular in delivering and promoting Human Rights history education. Third, the project aimed to develop both a range of national and international perspectives to allow comparative awarness and multi-perspectivity. Fourth, the year long project also uniquely perhaps aimed to ‘close the gap’ between schools and universities by pitching academics and teachers together, to pool resources and to support each other in their joint endeavours to enthuse European youngsters to study and enjoy history.
