Skytte Institute Concludes EuroConnect Online Debate Series on Civic Engagement and European Democracy

The EuroConnect online debate series has successfully come to an end, concluding one of the flagship educational activities of the Erasmus+ project Strengthening Civic Competences and EU Democratic Life. Over the course of May and June 2026, 122 students from the University of Tartu, the University of Göttingen and the University of Siena participated in a series of ten online discussions, exploring the relationship between civic engagement, higher education and European democracy.

The debate series was organised in three thematic blocks, each approaching democratic participation from a different perspective and focusing on different issues.

The European Issue Debates addressed some of today's most pressing European challenges. Students discussed youth political representation, democratic backsliding and societal polarisation, sustainability, and digital citizenship. These sessions were delivered by Dr. Paolo Marzi (University of Siena), Dr. Stefano Braghiroli (University of Tartu), and Dr. Kristina Kurze (University of Göttingen), bringing together expertise from political science, European studies and sustainability research. Sustainability proved to be the most popular topic of the series, attracting interest from 84 students across the three partner universities.

The Curriculum Discussions turned the attention to the role of higher education in strengthening democratic engagement. Led by Dr. Alar Kilp (University of Tartu), Dr. Nicolas Vogt-Reimuth (University of Göttingen) and Valentina Pettosini (University of Siena), students reflected on how civic competences can be better integrated into university curricula, the value of interdisciplinary teaching, and innovative learning practices that encourage active citizenship.

The final block, the Local Issue Discussions, demonstrated how European policies intersect with local realities. Participants explored the digitalisation of public services, community regeneration, migration and integration, sustainable mobility, and tourism and environmental sustainability. The discussions were facilitated by Dr. Stefano Braghiroli, Dr. Lars Keim, and Prof. Luca Verzichelli, highlighting how local challenges can be addressed through cooperation across different levels of governance.

Throughout the series, students worked in international groups, exchanging perspectives with peers from Estonia, Germany and Italy while developing practical ideas for strengthening democratic participation and civic engagement. The discussions generated numerous proposals on topics ranging from improving political participation among young people and responsible digital citizenship to more inclusive university education and sustainable local development.

Reflecting on the successful conclusion of the debate series, Thomas Prichard and Anna Beitane, organisers of the EuroConnect online debates at the Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies, highlighted the collaborative spirit that emerged throughout the programme:

"One of the most valuable outcomes of the debate series was seeing students move beyond discussing problems towards developing concrete solutions together. Despite coming from different countries and academic backgrounds, participants consistently identified shared concerns and common aspirations for the future of European democracy. That spirit of collaboration is precisely what EuroConnect aims to foster. We hope these discussions will inspire participants to remain engaged as active citizens and continue building connections across borders long after the project has ended."

The online debate series was developed within the Erasmus+ project Strengthening Civic Competences and EU Democratic Life (EuroConnect), implemented by a consortium comprising the University of Tartu, the University of Göttingen, the University of Siena, and the Centre for Creative Development "Danilo Dolci".

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