The European Council of Doctoral Candidates and Junior Researchers (Eurodoc) is organising its second round of its ambassador programme focused on democracy and the fundamental values this Spring. The aim of the programme is to enable academics in European higher education institutions to understand and explore the role higher education and research play for democracies in Europe and to become ambassadors for democracy within their institutions, their research communities, as well as in society. The first course was the very first of its kind. This second edition gives a unique opportunity to strengthen the understanding and practices of democracy in and by universities in this crucial moment of democratic backsliding and threats to research and higher education.
The course is specifically aimed at early-career researchers from all disciplines and from across Europe and aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the democratic values of higher education and research in Europe and to provide them with a theoretical and practical basis for their advocacy activities. The lectures will be given by a mixture of key experts and stakeholders.
The programme consists of two parts:
- The Democratic Mission of Research and Higher Education in Europe
- The Role of Democratic Public Authorities for Research in Europe
You can find the most up to date programme below.
Registration for Track 1 (full ambassador programme) will close on March 31st 2026 (Track 1 is limited to 80 persons to ensure the quality of the seminar sessions). If you want to attend the lectures, please register here.
Registration for Track 2 (solely attending the lectures) remains open until we reach a total of 260 registrations. If you want to attend the lectures, please register here.
In case of any questions, you can contact the organisers at valdem [at] eurodoc.net.
The “Eurodoc Ambassador Programme for Values and Democracy in European Research and Higher Education (ValDem)” has been conceptualised by Pil Maria Saugmann and Hannah Schoch. The curriculum for the 2026 “Eurodoc Ambassador Programme for Values and Democracy in European Research and Higher Education (ValDem)” has been developed by Norbert Bencze, Pil Maria Saugmann and Hannah Schoch.
The course is organised and led by Norbert Bencze, Karl Kilbo Edlund, Margaux Introna, Anna Pavelieva, Pil Maria Saugmann, Karl Henrik Storhaug Reinås, Hannah Schoch.
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 Valdem Programme | 340.91 KB |