European Association of History Educators
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The European Association of History Educators (EUROCLIO) was established in 1992 with the support of the Council of Europe. In 2006 it had 60 member associations from 46 countries, mostly European. Since 2006, the President is Súsanna Margrét Gestsdóttir from Iceland.
Its goal is the improvement of European history education, in cooperation with organisations in Europe and beyond. EUROCLIO cooperates with UNESCO, the Council of Europe, the European Union, the OSCE, national governments and various educational organisations.
The EUROCLIO Bulletin is issued twice a year. The EUROCLIO Newsletter is issued six times a year and contains information on history education
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[edit] About EUROCLIO
EUROCLIO is a European organisation for history teachers and their associations. Our organisation supports the learning and teaching of history by sharing and exchanging knowledge and experience. The overall aim of EUROCLIO is to promote and support the development of history education so that it strengthens peace, stability, democracy and critical thinking.
EUROCLIO is recognised by the Council of Europe as a non-governmental organisation and has an advisory status. The Standing Conference recognises the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the European Convention on Human Rights, the convention of human rights issued by the United Nations and the UNESCO recommendations relevant to history education.
EUROCLIO has no political, philosophical or religious affiliations.
[edit] Aims
The overall aim of EUROCLIO is to promote and support the development of history education so that it strengthens peace, stability, democracy and critical thinking. This aim can be subdivided in several targets. First it is important that the quality of history education is enhanced by means of teacher trainings, workshops and assistance in curriculum development. History teaching should provide young people with skills like critical thinking, independent opinion making and intellectual curiosity.
The second target is to cooperate, communicate and network internationally, by way that the international dimension and awareness in the learning and teaching of history can be improved. This will be promoted through the organisation of seminars, workshops and the EUROCLIO General Assembly, through the publication of Bulletins, Newsletters and by means of a website. Also of great importance is the maintaining and extending of relations with organisations like the Council of Europe, OSCE, UNESCO, EU and NGO’s. The third target is to professionalize history teachers and their organisations, so we can create a large network of specialists on innovative history education. This can be achieved by organising workshops and trainings to strengthen the History Teachers’ Associations. But also exemplar models for democratic organisations, good dissemination systems and profiency of foreign language can be of great importance for the professionalisation. The fourth target is to strengthen the organisation and sustainability of EUROCLIO by writing project proposals, producing PR materials and by contacting possible donors and sponsors.
[edit] History
History plays an important role in building and maintaining democracy and strengthening mutual understanding between different countries and people in Europe. At the same time history education is frequently used as a vehicle for political propaganda, hatred and aggression. After the collapse of the Iron Curtain in 1989, the scope and perspective of history and history education in EuropeEurope. changed completely. New states asked for reinterpretations of the past and questions came up about the role that history and history teaching should play in forming national identities. For many countries a European dimension in history education suddenly became possible and important for the future. Renewed contacts between East and West offered the opportunity to reinforce a history education, which acts as a tool to foster integration, peace and stability in
Supported by the Council of Europe, delegates from 14 countries, representing 18 History Teachers Associations, decided in 1992 to establish EUROCLIO, the European organisation for history education. This organisation supports the learning and teaching of history by sharing and exchanging knowledge and professional experience. In 1993 EUROCLIO, the European Standing Conference of History Teachers´ Associations was officially founded. During the following years EUROCLIO grew rapidly and in 2006 EUROCLIO represents 63 member organisations from 46 (mostly) European countries. EUROCLIO connects 40,000 historians and history educators in primary, secondary education and higher educational institutes.
EUROCLIO is recognised as member of the Liaison Committee of the Non-Governmental Organisations enjoying consultative status with the Council of Europe.
