Photo of EPAN members in 2023

Created in 2018, the Education Policy Advisors Network (EPAN) was established to support education authorities in the Council of Europe member states to promote democracy and human rights in education through the use of the Reference Framework of Competences for Democratic Culture (RFCDC), adapted to each context.

 

The Network gathers representatives from public authorities responsible for furthering democratic culture in education policy and practice appointed by the Governments of the States Parties to the European Cultural Convention.  It functions under the auspices of the CoE Steering Committee for Education (CDEDU).

 

EPAN’s main tasks include:

  • Contributing to the implementation of the upcoming Council of Europe Education Strategy, particularly to the first objective on renewing the democratic and civic mission of education;
  • Encouraging the integration of the RFCDC in education systems;
  • Collecting evidence and sharing experiences and good practices on the RFCDC in the member states;
  • Supporting the development of safe learning and teaching environments in a CDC-based approach as the foundation for quality education; 
  • Participating in the development of the Council of Europe's contribution to the United Nations 2030 Agenda for sustainable development (SDG 4 and SDG 16).

 
Since the Network’s establishment, EPAN members  have contributed to the ongoing, development of the RFCDC including the preparation of descriptors for young learners under 10 years of age, a CDC portfolio and a reflection tool for teachers. They have also made proposals on how teacher education programmes could be improved with the use of the RFCDC.  Relevant members provide an important link for country-specific capacity building projects supported by the Council of Europe and funded with external resources.