European Association of History Educators
Encyclopedia
The European Association of History Educators (EUROCLIO) was established in 1992 with the support of the Council of Europe
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...

. EUROCLIO is an International NGO that actively functions as a European wide facilitator for innovation and progress in History Education. The organisation contributes not only to the development, but also on the actual implementation of regional, national and European long-term projects, which focus on establishing knowledge, experience and expertise in the countries by training and consulting teachers. EUROCLIO develops teaching materials, builds and maintains professional Networks and acts as advisor to governments, international organisations, NGO's, History Teacher Associations and other Organisations. EUROCLIO is supported by the Jean Monnet Programme
Jean Monnet Programme
The Jean Monnet Programme, also known as the Jean Monnet Project, is a European Union initiative to encourage teaching, research and reflection in the field of European integration studies in higher education institutions...

 as part of the European Union Life Long Learning Programme and has, for many years, Official Participatory Status (external link) and is part of the EU Stake Holder’s Network in Education and Training.

Why is a balanced history education important?

History is the core subject for Civic Education and traditionally a significant part of the school curriculum in Europe: it is considered to be the vehicle for subject and transferable skills, knowledge and understanding, but it can be misused as a tool for nation states to create patriotism and a strong national identity. EUROCLIO believes that uncritical narratives, invented and exaggerated ‘heroic’ stories of struggle and suffering, myths and stereotypes can be problematic and can threaten tolerance, democracy and the truth of multiperspectivity (external link).

Education policies and regulations are commonly decided by national governments
Central government
A central government also known as a national government, union government and in federal states, the federal government, is the government at the level of the nation-state. The structure of central governments varies from institution to institution...

. In history this results in a focus that is very nationally oriented. Research by EUROCLIO confirms that the national dimension in history education is overrepresented whereas the regional, European and international dimensions are underrepresented. The disadvantage of a dominantly national approach is a distortion in historical events. Many historical events only make sense when they are seen in a larger context. ‘The emergence of nation states’ ‘emancipation of women’, ‘arts’, ‘economic depressions’, ‘famines’ and ‘the Industrial Revolution’ are just some topics that need an international dimension .

Also, citizenship
Citizenship
Citizenship is the state of being a citizen of a particular social, political, national, or human resource community. Citizenship status, under social contract theory, carries with it both rights and responsibilities...

 is an inalienable component of history education. The past offers a wealth of opportunities to study the variety of components in citizenship
Citizenship
Citizenship is the state of being a citizen of a particular social, political, national, or human resource community. Citizenship status, under social contract theory, carries with it both rights and responsibilities...

 and aims to foster a commitment to democratic societies and an awareness of shared fundamental values.

Skills and competencies such as the development of critical thinking, gathering and processing information, cooperative learning and communication skills serve as lifelong skills, and build well informed citizens with transferable skills. Grasping the meaning of concepts such as interpretation, democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...

, tolerance
Toleration
Toleration is "the practice of deliberately allowing or permitting a thing of which one disapproves. One can meaningfully speak of tolerating, ie of allowing or permitting, only if one is in a position to disallow”. It has also been defined as "to bear or endure" or "to nourish, sustain or preserve"...

 and identity will equip students to transfer such meanings and become fully-fledged members of their society, able to participate in the wider sphere.

Aims

Since its foundation, EUROCLIO has placed balanced history at the centre of education of responsible national and global citizens, of fostering international understanding, respect and cooperation. The primary aims are, to:

• Promote an approach to history education, which supports peace and stability in Europe and reinforces democratic values and skills.
• Smooth out the ragged edges of nationalism
Nationalism
Nationalism is a political ideology that involves a strong identification of a group of individuals with a political entity defined in national terms, i.e. a nation. In the 'modernist' image of the nation, it is nationalism that creates national identity. There are various definitions for what...

 and other similar ideologies, question myths and put stereotypes and traditional enemy-images into perspective.
• Stimulate critical thinking, pose questions and initiate debates. EUROCLIO does not only focus on diminishing tensions between countries, but also tries to bring together different communities within countries by exploring the sometimes painful past through a safe environment and through a careful and well prepared process.

EUROCLIO focuses on three target areas:

• Contribute to the Lifelong Learning
Lifelong learning
Lifelong learning is the continuous building of skills and knowledge throughout the life of an individual. It occurs through experiences encountered in the course of a lifetime...

 of History Educators by enhancing the quality of history teaching, encourage innovation and professionalism.
• Promote intercultural dialogue through co-operation, communication and networking.
• Contribute to Participatory Governance and management innovation through creating and strengthening independent professional organisations.

History

EUROCLIO was officially founded in 1993, but already in 1992, delegates from 14 countries (Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...

, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....

, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...

, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...

, Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...

, Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...

, The Netherlands, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...

, The United Kingdom, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...

, Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...

, Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...

, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....

 and Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...

), representing 18 History Teachers Associations decided that a European organization was needed to support the learning and teaching of history by sharing and exchanging knowledge and professional experience. The immediate cause for the foundation of such an institute was the collapse of the Iron Curtain
Iron Curtain
The concept of the Iron Curtain symbolized the ideological fighting and physical boundary dividing Europe into two separate areas from the end of World War II in 1945 until the end of the Cold War in 1989...

 in 1989 and the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....

 in 1992. This event changed the scope and perspective of history and history education in Europe completely and for many countries, a European dimension in history education suddenly became possible and important for the future. History education is frequently used as a vehicle for political propaganda
Propaganda
Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....

, hatred and aggression, but now the decision was made to renew contacts between East and West and reinforce a history education that could act as a tool to foster integration, peace and stability in Europe. From 1993 on, EUROCLIO grew rapidly and today it represents 64 member organizations from 46 (mostly) European countries, connecting 40,000 historians and history educators in primary, secondary and higher educational institutes.

Teacher Training and Conferences

Teaching history means a transfer of historical knowledge, competencies and values and dispositions. Although many history educators in Europe are generally well educated the constant rate of change and the desire for continuous improvement means that keeping up with current academic research and innovation is essential. Such professional need regular updating of their professional capacities, and consequently EUROCLIO has been working with thousands of history educators and students since 1993 to improve their competences and to encourage reflection on the learning and teaching of history.

Each year, EUROCLIO organises an International Training and Development Course where, on average, History Educators from more than 35 countries meet, learn and discuss a variety of topics and good practice to broaden their perspectives. These Annual Conferences take place in different countries and in close co-operation with local History Teachers’ Associations. In 2009, the Conference will be in Nicosia
Nicosia
Nicosia from , known locally as Lefkosia , is the capital and largest city in Cyprus, as well as its main business center. Nicosia is the only divided capital in the world, with the southern and the northern portions divided by a Green Line...

, Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...

, on the theme “Taking the Perspective of the Others: Intercultural Dialogue and History Teaching”. This Conference is co-organised by nine Teacher Unions and History Educators’ Associations from across the divide.

All EUROCLIO Teacher Training activities are in close co-operation with both local academics and institutes for history teacher education, and international experts to train history teachers how to use the most modern teaching methods in their classes. For example: history educators everywhere recognise the importance of ICT as a learning and communications tool, and want further training in how to develop these areas and how to extend their skills in using ICT to promote historical understanding and learning. EUROCLIO operates through the medium of English for international work, and in home languages with translations for the experts supporting projects and in developmental work.

Since its foundation, EUROCLIO has organised more than 30 International Conferences and more than 70 National and Regional Training and Development Courses.

Projects

Many International Events are part of a Long term Projects, which either involve European countries as a whole, or they focus on one particular country or region. These Projects support local History Educators’ Associations and teachers to develop innovative textbooks and teacher resource books, encourage a thoughtful use of active and innovative approaches to meet local needs, based on up-to-date scholarship and pedagogy
Pedagogy
Pedagogy is the study of being a teacher or the process of teaching. The term generally refers to strategies of instruction, or a style of instruction....

 and aid History Educators’ Associations to create a sensitive balance between national, regional and international history, taking into account the position of minority groups, controversial issues and different cultures and civilisations.

EUROCLIO projects always focus on ethnic, religious and gender. This does not only ensure equal opportunities but also lead intercultural dialogue within teams and inclusive teaching resources. It is common practice of EUROCLIO to use experts from one running or previous project to add to the learning experiences of other projects. This transnational cooperation does also increase the European dimension of history education and reduces the risk of a national bias in the developed material.

Today, EUROCLIO has been or is involved in more than twenty Long Term Projects, which have already led to the publication of 13 innovative textbooks and teacher resource books.

Network

EUROCLIO believes that a strong democratic and independent civil society can be reinforced by encouraging the foundation and maintenance of robust history educators’ organisations and professional NGOs. By reinforcing independent local, regional and European networks of history educators, trainers and academic historians, EUROCLIO has strengthened the pool of those able and willing to take their share and responsibility for democracy, peace and stability.

The Organization lobbies for support for teachers, for leave from school and for financial support in taking up in-service training opportunities in Europe and in separate countries by contacting Ministries of Education, Local Authorities and School Directors. As an official Advisor of the Council of Europe, EUROCLIO advises policy makers in Europe and attends meetings, ensuring that the position of History Educators is made clear. Over the years, many governments, international organisations, NGOs, History Teachers’ Associations and other organisations have contacted EUROCLIO for advice.

Today, EUROCLIO is an important platform for a large international Network that continues to grow. To keep its members informed, EUROCLIO maintains a website, www.euroclio.eu, where information is continuously updated. The Organization also publishes 2 Bulletins and 6 digital Newsletters a year, thus ensuring that its members are informed about developments within the network and in the field of History Education.

Member Organisations

FULL MEMBERS

Albania

ALBNA "Youth and History"

Austria

Konferenz für Geschichtsdidaktik' Österreich

Azerbaijan

History Teachers of Azerbaijan

Belarus

Byelorussian Association of Historians

Rogneda, the History Teachers´ Association of Belarus

Bosnia-Herzegovina

EUROCLIO-HIP

Bulgaria

Bulgarian History Teachers´ Association

Croatia

Croatian History Teachers' Association

Cyprus

Association of Greek Cypriot Philologists, SEKF-OELMEK

Association for Historical Dialogue and Research

Historical Research Centre K.T.O.E.O.S

Czech Republic

History Teachers´ Association of the Czech Republic

Denmark

Danish History Teachers´ Association

Estonia

Eesti ajalooopetajate selts

Finland

Historian ja Yhteiskuntaopin Opettajien Liitto, HYOL

France

Association des Professeurs d'Histoire et Geographie

Georgia

The Independent Association of History Teachers from Georgia

Germany

Verband der Geschichtslehrer Deutschlands e. V

Hungary

Törtenelemtanarok Egylete

Iceland

The History Teachers´ Association of Iceland

Ireland

Cumann Múinteoirí Staire na hÉireann

Italy

Clio'92 - Association of Research Groups on History Teaching and Learning

Historia Ludens

Landis

Kyrgyzstan

Association of History and Civics Teachers "Filia"

Latvia

Latvijas Vēstures skolotāju biedrība

Lithuania

Lietuvos Istorijos Mokyjtok Asociacija

Luxembourg

Association Luxembourgeoise des Enseignants d'Histoire, ALEH

Macedonia

Association of the Historians of the Republic of Macedonia

Malta

L-Assoċjazzjoni tal-Għalliema tal-Istorja

Moldova

Center for Educational Innovation

History Teachers' Association Moldova

Montenegro

Euroclio Crna Gora

The Netherlands

VGN - Vereniging van docenten in Geschiedenis en staatsinrichting in Nederland

Norway

HIFO

Utdanningforbundet

Poland

Stowarzyszenie Nauczycieli Historii

Portugal

Associação de Professores de História - APH

Romania

Association of History Teachers from Romania, APIR-Clio

Societatea de Siinte Istorice din Romania

Russia

Moscow History Teachers´ Association

History Teachers´ Association of Arkhangelsk

History Teachers´Association of St.-Petersburg

Khabarovsk History Teachers´Association

Serbia

Association for Social History

Slovakia

Slovak History Teachers Association

Slovenia

Slovenian History Teachers´Association

Spain

Asociacion del Profesorado de Historia y Geografia

Sweden

Swedish History Teachers´Association

Switzerland

Société Suisse des maitres d'histoire / Verein Schweizerischer Geschichtslehrer / Società svizzera dei professori di storia

Tadzikistan

Republic Association of Teachers of History, Law and Public Science

Ukraine

All-Ukrainian History Teachers´ Association - Nova Doba

United Kingdom

The Historical Association

United Kingdom History Teacher Education Network (HTEN)

Scottish Association of Teachers in History, S.A.T.H.

Association of History Teachers in Wales

ASSOCIATED MEMBERS

Australia

National Center for History Education

Denmark

European Educational Publishers Group

Germany

Georg Eckert Institute for International Textbook Research

Koerber Stiftung

International

The International Society for History Didactics - Lehrstuhl fuer Didaktik der Geschichte Universitaet Erlangen-Nuernberg

Israel

Cummings Centre for Russian and East European Studies, Tel Aviv University

Spain

Ben Baso - Asociacion de Profesores para la Difusion y Proteccion del Partimonio

External links

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