The Children's Identity & Citizenship European Association (CiCea) is proud to announce its international research gathering hosted at the University of Huddersfield. The Youth Identity & Civic Education Symposium 2026 brings together leading scholars, educators, researchers, and social policy advocates to discuss the evolving dynamics of citizenship, social cohesion, and identity formation among young people across Europe and beyond.
In an era characterized by dynamic global shifts, technological acceleration, and socio-political transformations, understanding how young people navigate their sense of belonging is paramount. This symposium serves as an international forum dedicated to examining the intersection of educational frameworks, youth activism, and democratic participation. Delegates will gather to present ground-breaking research, share practical pedagogical strategies, and collaborate on policies aimed at fostering inclusive, empathetic, and active citizens.
Key Focus Areas and Conference Themes
The three-day event is structured around several critical themes central to contemporary educational research and practice:
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Identity Construction in the Digital Era: Investigating how digital media, social networks, and virtual communities shape political literacy, self-perception, and civic involvement among youth.
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Democratic Citizenship and European Values: Exploring methods to strengthen human rights education, democratic principles, and anti-discriminatory frameworks in primary, secondary, and higher education settings.
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Pedagogical Innovations for Active Citizenship: Showcasing experiential learning approaches, peer-to-peer coaching, and community-led initiatives that empower young people to address real-world socio-political challenges.
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Diversity, Inclusion, and Social Cohesion: Addressing systemic inequality, marginalized youth voices, and political polarization through inclusive policy frameworks and social justice education.
Interactive Sessions, Workshops, and Networking
Attendees will have access to a rich program consisting of keynote speeches by renowned scholars, peer-reviewed paper sessions, poster presentations, and hands-on workshops. Interactive symposia will encourage active dialogue between delegates and panel speakers, moving beyond traditional lecture formats to create a collaborative environment.
In addition to academic exchanges, the event features scheduled networking coffee breaks, dedicated doctoral student mentoring sessions, and a conference dinner in Huddersfield town centre. These opportunities allow early-career researchers and established academics to build international partnerships, co-author publications, and initiate interdisciplinary research projects. Selected conference papers will also be referred to the double-blind peer-reviewed journal Citizenship Teaching & Learning for potential publication.
Key Event Highlights
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Interactive panel discussions on youth identity formation in post-digital Europe.
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Research workshops on active civic engagement and democratic values.
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Presentation of peer-reviewed papers on social cohesion and youth activism.
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Global networking sessions with international educators, scholars, and policymakers.
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Collaborative roundtables on integrating media literacy into citizenship curricula.
Venue & Location Info
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