HORIZON-CL2-2026-01-DEMOCRACY-09: Citizenship education as part of lifelong learning

The project addresses the growing crisis of democratic participation and representation across Europe, reflected in declining civic engagement and increasing tolerance of authoritarian tendencies. It positions lifelong learning—particularly adult education—as a critical but underutilised lever for strengthening democratic culture and active citizenship.

The proposed action develops a systemic, evidence-based framework linking participation in adult education with democratic attitudes and behaviours. It moves beyond declarative citizenship education approaches, focusing instead on how participation itself generates participation, and how educational environments can actively foster civic agency.

The project is structured around four interrelated pillars:

1. Comparative social research on democratic participation
Large-scale quantitative and qualitative research across diverse European contexts (“north/south”, “east/west”), examining both:

• Passive participation: knowledge, opinions, attitudes

• Active participation: practices, mobilisation (including digital forms)
  Special attention is given to vulnerable and underrepresented groups.

2. Mapping and analysis of adult civic education ecosystems
Systematic analysis of existing adult education programmes, methodologies, and institutional approaches to citizenship education across countries.

3. Development and pilot implementation of innovative educational approaches
Design and testing of new pedagogical models and materials that prioritise reflective, experiential, and participation-driven learning, implemented in diverse social environments.

4. Development of a digital “serious game” for civic engagement research and activation
Creation of an interactive tool simulating real-life democratic dilemmas in urban environments, enabling:

• Continuous data collection on political attitudes

• Engagement with democratic decision-making processes

• Exploration of transitions from attitudes to action

The project integrates before/after evaluation of participants, enabling robust assessment of behavioural change and impact.

Overall, the action combines research, experimentation, and innovation to deliver:

• New evidence on the relationship between adult education and democratic participation

• Scalable pedagogical models for citizenship education

• A transferable digital tool for civic engagement and policy use