TAP-DCE – Teacher Academy Project Democratic Citizenship Education

Democracy is not something we can take for granted. It must be learned, lived and continually reimagined. At a time when democratic values across Europe are increasingly under pressure, schools play a vital role as spaces where young people learn to find their voice, take responsibility and shape the future together.

This is where the Teacher Academy Project – Democratic Citizenship Education (TAP-DCE) comes in. It provides practical, hands-on tools to support teachers in fostering democratic competencies in a sustainable way and in bringing democratic education to life in the classroom.

Working in partnership with institutions across Europe, TAP-DCE develops new approaches to collaboration, learning and teaching. The resulting formats and materials are designed not only to support knowledge acquisition, but also to enable meaningful participation and to strengthen schools as active, democratic environments.

The project at a glance

Project Overview

TAP-DCE places democratic values and democratic education firmly at the center of teacher training. Its aim is to support teachers at every stage of their professional careers in fostering democratic competencies and strengthening active participation in society. The project combines theoretical foundations with practical approaches for everyday school life as well as for both initial teacher education and ongoing professional development.

Key Focus Areas

Democratic Citizenship Education: Building the skills for active, critical, and responsible participation in society
Digital education & media literacy: Encouraging a confident, critical, and responsible use of digital information and media
Inclusion, diversity, and participation: Creating learning environments where every voice is heard and valued
Sustainability & social responsibility: Preparing learners to contribute to a more sustainable and equitable future
STEAM / iSTEM: Combining subject knowledge with critical thinking and problem-solving skills

Target Audience

TAP-DCE is designed for everyone involved in shaping democratic education in schools and teacher training:

Primary and secondary school teachers
Student teachers and aspiring educators
Teacher educators and higher education institutions
Schools and other educational organisations
Education policymakers and decision-makers

Goals

Strengthen democratic competencies among teachers, student teachers, and learners
Develop, test and embed six innovative learning modules for long-term use
Bring together research and practice by applying approaches in real classroom settings
Connect with key future-focused areas such as digital education, STEAM, sustainability and inclusion
Create opportunities for exchange and collaborative learning through online, hybrid and in-person formats
Foster European collaboration through connected Professional Learning Communities
Ensure lasting impact through practical open educational resources (OER) and engagement with education policy stakeholders

Partner institutions

TAP-DCE is supported by a diverse European consortium that brings together universities, educational institutions and experts in teacher education, EdTech and quality assurance.

This close international collaboration fosters solutions that are both effective at the European level and adaptable to a wide range of local educational contexts.

University College Dublin

The University College Dublin brings unique experience in connecting educational research with European policy dialogue, making it a highly valuable project partner. Building on this strength, the ideas developed within TAP-DCE help advance the conversation on democratic education and civic engagement across Europe. Experience now

Aristotle University Thessaloniki

The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki is a highly valued project partner, bringing strong academic expertise in democratic practices in schools along with extensive experience in implementing holistic approaches that foster participation, shared responsibility and the active engagement of both teachers and students. Experience now

University College of Teacher Education Vienna

The University of Teacher Education Vienna is a valued project partner, contributing extensive experience in equipping student teachers with the skills to engage with media in a critical, responsible and confident way. Experience now

Polytechnic Institute of Santarém

The Polytechnic University of Santarém enhances the project through innovative approaches that meaningfully link iSTEM subjects with real-world sustainability challenges. It demonstrates how inquiry-based learning, creativity and interdisciplinary thinking enable students to develop solutions and act as responsible, engaged citizens. Experience now

Education and Training Boards Ireland

Education and Training Boards Ireland contributes a broad network of school communities to the project, providing a real-world setting in which democratic approaches can be explored, reflected on and continuously developed in everyday school life. Experience now

CorEdu

CorEdu is a non-profit educational organization based in Leipzig with particular expertise in sustainable entrepreneurship education and experiential learning. It connects civic participation with collaborative innovation, creativity and initiative. Experience now

Two interconnected green circles. The first circle contains the letter “K”, the second the letter “R”

K&R Education

K&R EDUCATION, a Swedish education company, supports the project through a formative evaluation carried out across its entire duration. Working closely and continuously with the consortium partners, it helps foster reflection, shared learning, and the ongoing development of project activities. Experience now

Lernacon

Lernacon is a Belgian company specializing in innovative professional development for teachers, with a strong focus on bridging research and practice in education. Its work centers on virtual, collaborative learning approaches and on translating research insights into practical applications that support and strengthen professional learning over the long term. Experience now

Upcoming events

Upcoming events are announced in the ZLSB website’s news section.

When?	Where?	Who?	What?
29.09.-02.29.2026	Thessaloniki, Greece	Experts from science and practice	Foundations Conference
June 2027	Vienna, Austria	Teacher trainers and practicing teachers	Practice Conference
2028	Dublin, Ireland	tba	Innovations Conference

Contact Us

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Research associate

Ms Maria Richter-Babekoff

International affairs advisor

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Contact Information

Center for Teacher Education and Educational Research (German abbreviation: ZLSB)

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Visiting address:

Seminargebäude II, Raum 30 (SE1) Zellescher Weg 20

01217 Dresden

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Nicole Cruschwitz

Projektassistenz Internationales Büro