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.

Click here for a listing of current Programme Events

• Connect and Reflect on Perceptions related to Migration. Participants will have the chance to interact to achieve a more prominent role for migration history in European History Education and, thus, contribute to a more inclusive Europe.
• Reflect on the Responsibility of a European Civil Society. The Project encourages initiatives for events from the civil society member – organizations. The core strategy to overcome the own border, is the regional outreach with representatives from member organizations of neighboring countries participating in events in a different country.
• Sharing Migration Experiences across boundaries of Religion, Culture and Ethnicity. Debates and exchange of views bring migrant background history teachers and representatives of migrant NGO’s together contributing to a constructive intercultural dialogue.

Teacher Trainers will learn more about new fields to train history teachers in a multicultural school surrounding Academics of universities and migration research institutes will experience what aspects of their research can be used in education and are therefore relevant for society Migrant NGO’s will find a platform for their migrant histories and will be able to find partners to have their story heard by the general public National History Teachers Associations will be able to strengthen their public profile; Students of History Education will learn about an aspect of history that is of vital importance for history education in an increasingly multicultural Europe.

Reports are coming in linked to our Connecting Europe through History – Experiences and Perceptions of Migrations Project.

• In Krakow, where students and scholars engaged in a lively discussion. There was also a debate on History teaching in Poland - with concerns that since the fall of Communism, nationalistic tendencies linger on in the curriculum. Click here to read the report of this event.
• In Bologna, we organised a workshop on Transition from an Emigration Country to an Immigration Country which explored how this transition is reflected in History Education in Italy, using shared experiences, media representations, and how this is received and can be dealt with in the classroom. Click here to download the report.
• In Leiden, the Europaeum helped organise a graduate workshop on Migration, Political Parties & Public Rhetoric in Contemporary Europe which brought together young scholars from Europaeum universities to explore contemporary European themes. The workshop was followed by a special Roundtable discussing the state of History Education and the relevance of Migration as a theme in History Education with graduate students, professors from the Humanities and Social Sciences, History and Citizenship teachers, teacher trainers, textbook authors, and curriculum developers. Click here for a report on this event.
• In Paris, we organised a seminar on History of Migrations in France and Europe: what are the challenges for the classroom? which took place at the Palais de la Porte Doréein in Paris on March 17th. With some 83 history teachers, researchers, and other education professionals in attendance, the seminar proved highly successful with lively, thought-provoking discussions. Please see the Programme for further information. Click here for a report on this event.
• In Oxford, we organised a History Graduate Workshop on Migration, Ethnicity and the Making of Modern Europe and special Roundtable Debate which formed part of the workshop. Click here for a report on this event.