2022
The Hub in Active European Citizenship launches in UCC
A new initiative aimed at increasing active European citizenship among younger citizens was launched at University College Cork by the Lord Mayor of Cork City, Cllr Deirdre Forde, and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence, Simon Coveney TD.
The Hub in Active European Citizenship brings four different activities together with the aim to develop active European citizenship by focussing on creating a space for diverse opinions to mature the debate beyond pro or anti-European Union.
The launch, in UCC’s Devere Hall, was attended by over 400 secondary school pupils.
The four activities of the Hub are:
- To collaborate at primary and secondary school level to provide innovative teaching and learning material on Ireland and the European Union to teachers of Junior Infants all the way to 6th year. This aims to develop a continuum of education to empower future voters with a civic voice on European issues.
- To provide free Continuing Professional Development courses to primary and secondary teachers.
- To focus on research regarding teachers’ efficacy in teaching on active European citizenship and the European Union more generally. This hopes to lead to practical recommendations to support teachers in this regard more directly.
- To embed in the community and will host events with other partners, like the Europe Day festival on 7 May 2023. This will be a family fun day for everyone to play, debate, sing and dance on the European Union theme. There will also be an EU-themed treasure hunt of 27 teams of 2 adults and 2 children 12 and under who could win a two-night weekend away to a European city, sponsored by Cork airport and Cork City Council.
Project lead Dr Emmanuelle Schon-Quinlivan, lecturer in European politics in UCC’s Department of Government, said.
“The Hub is looking at creating opportunities within schools and in the community to engage people on European affairs as well as empowering them to get solutions from the European level. We are looking at the local and national representative for answers but increasingly the scale of decisions is at the European level. The Hub hopes to be a centre for resources, debates, connections and fun as well, all about Ireland and the European Union.”
As 2024 and European elections are looming, this Hub gives members of the public the opportunity to exchange with guests at events we will organise, get their voice heard, take part in projects or social media activities that we are organising on the theme of ‘What kind of EU do we want?’. The Europe Day festival will also be a great opportunity to demonstrate that you can celebrate the EU as a club and have fun on the day.