The international conference "Reimaging Democratic Societies" taking place in Oslo 27-29 June focused on how higher education can contribute in developing active citizens. 140 higher education leaders and representatives of public authorities from the US and Europe gathered to focus on the role of higher education in furthering democratic citizenship. Read the inspiring speeches and presentations!

Report from the conference on Religion in Education that took place in Warwick in July is now published. The horrific events that had happened in Norway were never far from delegates’ minds-in that themes such as diversity, identity, social justice and inter-religious understanding threaded their way through virtually all conference presentations.

The European Commission’s DG Education and Training has recently launched a call for proposals on a “European Policy Network on the education of children and young people with a migrant background” in the scope of the Lifelong Learning Programme. The deadline for submission of applications is 14 October 2011.

On 12 August the world celebrated the “International Youth Day”. The Ukrainian Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe regards this as an important occasion to highlight the specific concerns, ambitions and achievements of millions of children and adolescents living on our continent.

Current issues including the celebration of diversity, interfaith dialogue, gender-sensitive education, prevention of racism, discrimination and violence as well as civic engagement of youth are discussed in this new publication from UNESCO.