The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights released a new study on Holocaust and Human Rights Education. The report reveals, that despite the commitment to Human Rights Education expressed in Ministries throughout the EU, teaching about the Holocaust rarely includes discussion of human rights issues.

The seminar “Dialogue About Religion in the Classroom” for primary school teachers will take place in Oslo, organized by the Centre for Studies of Holocaust and Religious Minorities and the EWC. The seminar will present and discuss the findings of a research project on Religion in Education, and its relevance for educational practice.

Both national and international media has shown a great interest in the European Wergeland Centre. Various newspapers, journals and online publications have published interviews and information about the Centre.

Oslo University College, together with the University of Oslo and the Center for Studies of Holocaust and Religious Minorities, has invited the distinguished anthropologist and historian Prof. Matti Bunzl (University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign) to give a series of lectures in Oslo; 16., 18., 21. September. The European Wergeland Centre is participating in this event, and EWC’s Research Coordinator Claudia Lenz will be giving a presentation.

EWC welcomes Claudia Lenz to its team! Claudia Lenz has a PhD in Political Science, from the University of Hamburg. Her research is in the fields of history cultures and didactics of history, focusing on social and political in- and exclusion and the conditions for active democratic citizenship.

In cooperation with the Council of Europe, the EWC will host two Pestalozzi Seminars during autumn 2009. The first seminar will take place September 21-25, 2009. The Pestalozzi Programme organizes training activities for education professionals from all over Europe.

The inauguration event marked the opening of the European Wergeland Centre. The Norwegian Royal Family, represented by HRH Crown Princess Mette Marit, attended the opening, as well as ministers, politicians and high level experts.

We are proud to announce that Robert Jackson has been appointed as Professor II in Education and Religious Diversity at the European Wergeland Centre.

A new resource using real life stories to teach English and human rights awareness has been launched in Canberra by Federal Attorney-General, the Hon Robert McClelland.

On 9th June, Tony Blair launched a radically new global education programme, Face to Faith, that engages secondary school students of different faiths across the world in learning directly with, from and about each other.