In an era marked by increasing social polarization and challenges to democratic institutions, higher education must reclaim its role as an agent for civic responsibility and democratic innovation. In 2023, the Council of Europe observed that while its Reference Framework of Competences for Democratic Culture (RFCDC) had made significant progress, more work needed to be done. The Council noted the difficulties in measuring learners’ competences that would promote democratic culture. It furthermore found that integrating competences for democratic culture in academic disciplines had met ‘challenges’ and even ‘resistance’. They concluded that ‘teachers, trainers and lecturers lack the training, support and resources to effectively integrate the RFCDC’.

Service-learning offers a powerful pedagogical framework that can bridge the gap between academic theory and the pressing needs of our communities. Previous research suggests that service-learning may foster capabilities such as critical thinking, empathy, and civic agency. However, the conceptual relationship between these capabilities and established frameworks of competences for democratic culture remains insufficiently specified, and empirical evidence regarding the extent to which service-learning contributes to the development of such competences is still fragmented. This raises the question of how service-learning theories and practices can be more clearly theorized and empirically grounded to contribute to the strengthening of democratic culture and resilient democratic societies.

This conference is an opportunity for us to learn from each other about how service-learning has incorporated democratic competences, through reflective practice or more academic strategies. It gives us a place to share with each other about the opportunities and challenges in promoting such competencies in the classroom, in institutions of higher education, and among social partners. In doing so, the conference seeks to enable all participants in service-learning to more fruitfully become active citizens and co-creators of a more democratic society. The conference seeks to support participants in becoming active citizens and co-creators of democratic societies. It provides a space for reflection, dialogue, and collaboration.

EASLHE and the University of Bamberg, in cooperation with the higher education network ‘Education through Social Responsibility’ and the Erasmus+ project SL4DC, invite academics, teachers, practitioners and community partners engaged in or interested in service-learning and civic engagement to contribute to our conversation on ‘Strengthening Democracy through Service-Learning’

Want to contribute? Submit your paper, poster or workshop proposal by 27/04/2026. The conference platform, including the abstract submission tool, will be online at the end of March.