EEA meets Council of Europe
In an era where the digital landscape is as vast as it is complex, the imperative for comprehensive digital, AI literacy, and STEM education has never been more pronounced. Yet, in the rush towards technological proficiency, we must not lose sight of the equally crucial need to cultivate our democratic values and enhance critical thinking skills. The Council of Europe's Digital Citizenship Education Programme emerges as a pivotal force in this balanced educational endeavour.
During the enlightening "EEA Meets… Council of Europe" webinar held on 21 February 2024, Ahmet Murat Kilic, the Head of the Council's Digital Transformation and E-learning Unit, underscored the essence of a human rights-based approach to digital education. He insightfully noted that while technology, inherently neutral, can, through its design and application, profoundly impact our rights.
The conversation delved deeper into how digital citizenship education serves as a robust defence against the onslaught of fake news and deep fakes. The Council of Europe is planning to actively engage various stakeholder groups through an upcoming campaign within its European Year of Digital Citizenship Education in 2025. This initiative explores the potential for launching a grant scheme aimed at empowering civil society organisations to collaborate directly with educational institutions.
A significant part of the discussion revolved around establishing a framework for the quality assurance of EdTech tools. Although the Council of Europe itself cannot engage in certification practices due to liability issues and mandates, its goal is to provide Member States with reference points. This approach fosters the development of a review/certification system grounded in common standards, facilitating a smoother implementation process across countries. It's a vision where learners, even from outside Europe, can benefit from a system refined by shared principles and conventions.
Participants also expressed concerns regarding the potential adverse effects of Open Educational Resources on EdTech development, highlighting the nuanced challenges in the sector.
The Council of Europe is actively forging pathways to enhance engagement with the private and civil sectors, initiatives soon to be shared through the EEA. These efforts aim to establish a structured dialogue that bridges the gaps between the public, private, and civil sectors. By fostering collaboration and identifying a unified vision for digital education, the Council endeavours to safeguard human rights, democracy, the rule of law, and, fundamentally, the best interests of learners.
In this dialogue, the Council of Europe reaffirms its commitment to not just educating the digital citizens of tomorrow but to shaping a future where technology enhances, rather than undermines, our democratic values and human rights.
You can re-watch all of our EEA Meets Policy webinars here!