University of Augsburg

About us

The University of Augsburg was founded in 1970 as a reform university. Today, it includes eight faculties with over 20,000 enrolled students. The university offers a wide range of academic programmes in the fields of social sciences and humanities, education, economics, law, natural and technical sciences, computer science and medicine. According to its motto “Scientia et Conscientia”, its aim is to increase knowledge conscientiously through research, teaching and studies and to take social responsibility for such knowledge. Through interdepartmental and interfaculty areas of focus and networking, the University of Augsburg, with its interdisciplinary research expertise, can today contribute convincingly to answering the complex issues of the present and future – on a national and international level.

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Our Role in YOUROPE

In the YOUROPE project, our team at the Chair for Civic Education and Didactics of Social Sciences at Augsburg University, led by Professor Dr. Andrea Szukala, is developing a comprehensive understanding of the dominant notions of European citizenship. As the leader of Work Package 3, our team supports communication among the partner universities and coordinates the bibliometric and systematic literature review, as well as the critical analysis of national and European curricula, policies, and frameworks related to European citizenship. Our main role in the project focuses on developing a new bottom-up theoretical framework for European citizenship and democracy, while also capturing reflections and lived experiences within our own CLRA course. Supported by Work Package 2, our team and students at Augsburg University are implementing the CLRA methodology in their fieldwork with communities and schools, creating engaging reports that document the process.

D6 · Dimension

Digital Citizenship

Digital environments as civic and political space

KEY QUESTION
What does it mean to be a citizen online?
DISCUSSION PROMPTS
  • What do you do online that could influence others or public issues — even in small ways?
  • Do you feel that what you see online is shaped by algorithms or platforms? Can you give an example?
  • Where online do you feel like an active citizen — and where do you feel like just a user?

D5 · Dimension

Inclusion and Justice

Structural inequalities and intersecting identities

KEY QUESTION

Do you think everyone has equal opportunities to participate in society?

DISCUSSION PROMPTS
  • Who is often excluded or overlooked in your community — and why do you think that is?
  • What rules, habits, or systems make participation harder for some people than others?
  • What would need to change for participation to be fairer and more inclusive?

D4 · Dimension

Participation and Power

Procedural vs. substantive participation

KEY QUESTION

When does participation actually make a difference in your life?

DISCUSSION PROMPTS
  • Describe a situation where you participated — in a council, survey, protest, vote — but it led to no change. What did that feel like?
  • Where do you feel you genuinely have influence? At school, at home, online, in your city?
  • What is the difference between being asked for your opinion and actually having a say?

D3 · Dimension

European Citizenship

Europe as lived democratic space

KEY QUESTION
What does ‘Europe’ mean to you in your everyday life?
DISCUSSION PROMPTS
  • What does 'European Citizenship' mean to you? Describe it in a few words — or say what it doesn't mean to you.
  • Do you feel connected to Europe? Why, or why not?
  • What would need to change for Europe to feel more real or relevant to you?

D2 · Dimension

Youth Voice & Knowledge

Young people as knowers, not just learners

KEY QUESTION

Do you feel that young people’s voices and experiences are taken seriously?

DISCUSSION PROMPTS
  • Are there things you know or experience that are not taken seriously in school or in society?
  • When do you feel your opinion is genuinely valued — and when is it ignored?
  • Think of a moment when you were heard. What made that possible? And a moment when you weren't — what got in the way?