Fostering democratic citizenship through intercultural exchange: Integrating international mobility into civic education in Italian schools

The “Competence Framework for a Culture of Democracy” (Council of Europe, 2018) by the Council of Europe reconceptualized civic education as a vehicle for fostering democratic citizenship, social justice, and global awareness. In alignment with these principles, the project presented here, designed by the Lab of School and Democratic Citizenship of the Milan-Bicocca University in collaboration with the “For Democratic School” Association, promoted and funded by Fondazione Intercultura for Intercultural Dialogue and International Youth Exchanges, integrates international secondary student mobility into democratic citizenship education. The program aims to enhance the learning experience for all students by intertwining civic education with the unique insights gained from student mobility. Key objectives of the program include linking international mobility with authentic democratic and intercultural practices; encouraging constructive dialogues through different points of view; fostering a broad, critical perspective on students’ own social contexts as well as valuing and integrating the experiences of students with diverse cultural backgrounds. The program also aims to raise awareness of global social issues, deepen understanding of democratic institutions, and stimulate interest in active participation within the school and community. Implemented from 2024 in 17 schools across Italy within a Training Research methodology (Asquini, 2018; Pastori, 2017), the program is designed as a flexible, adaptable model aligned with local school projects and responsive to students’ interests. Over its three-year structure, the program unfolds in three stages. In the first year, students engage in activities that promote curiosity about cultural perspectives and experiences, including migration and international mobility. The second year (currently in progress) focuses on debates and collaborative research projects that foster civic engagement and responsibility. The final year emphasizes public speaking, with students sharing their mobility experiences and presenting proposals for democratic improvement within their communities. By integrating intercultural and democratic citizenship competence, this curriculum equips students and educators to navigate an interconnected world and actively contribute to social justice and democratic values. The innovative approach of the programme not only enriches civic education, but it also empowers students to become globally aware, inclusive citizens. This paper discusses early findings from the first year, reflecting on the challenges and opportunities in promoting a civic education that integrates democratic, international, and intercultural dimensions.