The ECML project “Using ECML resources for plurilingual and intercultural education for democratic culture” recently held a two-day network meeting with 13 experts from across Europe to evaluate the project tools being developed. The meeting, designed to enhance the adaptation of ECML resources, provided a platform for dynamic discussions and insightful feedback from participants.

Sessions began with an overview of key documents, including the Council of Europe recommendation and the Competences for Democratic Culture Framework. This was followed by explorations of strategies for localising ECML resources. A significant highlight was the introduction of the adaptation grid and checklist, key tools designed to support educators and policymakers in aligning existing resources with their specific needs. 

The second day focused on group work to improve the adaptation framework, brainstorming ways to integrate and search for resources in the ECML database. Feedback emphasised the need for establishing clear links between plurilingual education and democratic culture and identified challenges in adapting resources to local contexts. Several suggestions for adjusting the presented tools were discussed, including exploring the power of AI as a search engine, and developing structured scenarios for different levels of the adaptation.

The meeting underlined the project's commitment to inclusivity and flexibility in resource use. Follow-up actions include refining tools, addressing participants' concerns, and supporting the practical application of ECML resources in diverse educational contexts. Stay tuned for more updates!

Kenia Puig, Miranda Karjagdi Çolak, Eva Vetter, Nermina Wikström 

• A new Council of Europe Recommendation on the importance of plurilingual and intercultural education for democratic culture 
• Reference Framework of Competences for Democratic Culture (RFCDC)

• ECML project website “Using ECML resources for plurilingual and intercultural education for democratic culture” (2024-26) (available in English and German) : www.ecml.at/arpide

As part of the ARPIDE project's dissemination efforts, the project coordinator, Kenia Puig i Planella, and Miranda Karjagdi Çolak, project team member, presented a workshop at the Eaquals Online Conference (11-12 October 2024). The workshop focused on supporting quality practices in language education by promoting plurilingual and intercultural education for democratic culture, aligned with the Council of Europe's Recommendation CM/Rec(2022)1. 

Participants explored how to strategically use ECML resources to enhance teaching and learning outcomes, aligning educational goals with competences for democratic culture. Through hands-on examples, the session demonstrated how teachers and institutions can adopt plurilingual and intercultural practices. Participants engaged with toolkits and real-life case studies, gaining insights into practical strategies for improving language teaching across Europe.

This workshop reinforced the ARPIDE project's commitment to fostering plurilingualism and intercultural understanding, contributing to sustainable educational improvement across diverse contexts.

   
Using ECML resources to support plurilingual and intercultural education for democratic culture
www.ecml.at/arpide

Miranda Karjagdi Çolak

We are thrilled to share the recent developments from our team member meeting for the project "Using ECML resources for plurilingual and intercultural education for democratic culture". This gathering marked a significant step forward in our mission to support member states in implementing the Council of Europe Recommendation on plurilingual and intercultural education for democratic culture.

At the end of the meeting the following results were attained:

• Features of the grid for mapping ECML resources against Council of Europe Recommendation principles were finalised.
• The number of ECML projects to be included in the mapping process were identified and agreed.
• Competencies for democratic culture to be integrated into the mapping were identified and agreed.
• A list of potential members for our network meeting was established.

By fostering team dynamics and bringing members together for the first time, the event significantly contributed to project advancement. Moving forward, we are eager to explore strategies for disseminating our available projects and engaging professionals in applying our resources within their networks. Together, we aim to bridge projects and resources with professionals in teaching, research, policymaking, and beyond. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to make strides in our project journey.

Kenia PUÍG i PLANELLA
Project coordinator

• Project website “Using ECML resources to support plurilingual and intercultural education for democratic culture” (2024-2027): English – German – French