Lifelong learning, for those working with the youngest

Over the past years, Pedagogy in Practice has conducted research on implementing democratic values in pedagogical practices such as childcare organisations and schools as well as on citizen participation by means of policy labs, involving children and families in policy making processes.

In Belgium, a lot of childcare workers have a vocational training (vet) or a qualification through adult education. Although democratic values take up a substantial part of their training, this happens in an implicit manner, often without mentioning terminology concerning democracy. At work as well, democratic values can be found in the Pedagogical Framework for Childcare and in a lot of practices, often implicitly. Lifelong learning opportunities for practitioners are scarce and often hands-on, focused on actions and interactions. Again, democratic values are implicit.

With respect to the call HORIZON-CL2-2026-01-DEMOCRACY-09: Lifelong learning of citizenship education and citizen participation the centre would be able to:

- Work on a pilot on democratic values and citizenship education in vet and adult education for childcare practitioners. This is a particularly interesting approach, as these practitioners live democratic values in their practices with children.

- Work on a similar pilot in lifelong learning for childcare practitioners. The Research Centre itself, also provides lifelong learning courses for practitioners, both on pedagogical and organizational themes.

- Work on a pilot on policy participation for workers with vet training or adult education.

- Contribute to evaluation research of pilots.