Free Lecture Series at ProDemos (Free Registration)

"Young people are not interested in politics." "Today's youngsters no longer vote." We often hear such statements. But why is that, and is it really true? And what role does education play in this? 🎓

This autumn, in collaboration with ProDemos, we are hosting the lecture series "Democracy and Citizenship: From Science to the Classroom" to find answers to these questions.

What does this look like? 

In the first lecture on Monday 12 November, Professor Tom van der Meer critically examines whether democratic values are under pressure. What evidence is there for this claim, and what exactly are the core values necessary for democracy? Read more about the first lecture.

In the second lecture we will look at the role of the Dutch educational system. Society expects education to assume various responsibilities, but is this possible? And how is the current education system doing? How do we perform compared to other countries? The lecture will take place on Monday 19 November and will be given by Professor of Sociology Herman van de Werfhorst. Read more about the second lecture.

The third lecture on 26 November focuses on practice. Professor Ellen Claes will explore the school and classroom climate during this evening. She will particularly emphasize the importance of an open climate for discussing citizenship education. Afterward, Diversion will share their own practical experiences on how to address controversial topics in the classroom. Read more about the third lecture.

The final lecture will take place on Monday 10 December. During this evening, together with Professor of Educational Sciences Geert ten Dam, we will examine the current state of citizenship education. What do we actually know about the citizenship competences of young people? And how can education contribute to them? Read more about the fourth and final lecture.

The lectures will be moderated by Jerome Scheltens (lectures 1, 3 & 4) and Iftin Abokor (lecture 2).

Practical information

• When: The lecture series takes place on Monday evenings in November and December. The lectures are from 20:00 to 21:30h (doors open at 19:30h).
• Where: ProDemos, Hofweg 1, Den Haag
• Admission: The lectures are free to attend, but registration is required. You can register via our online reservation system (click on the links below):
  • Lecture 1 – Tom van der Meer (12 November)
  • Lecture 2 – Herman van de Werfhorst (19 November)
  • Lecture 3 – Ellen Claes  (26 November)
  • Lecture 4 – Geert ten Dam (10 December)
  • You can register for the entire lecture series here.