EUTOPIA “Urban Education in Europe” Programme Returns for Its Second Edition

As part of its inter-campus collaboration within the EUTOPIA Alliance, the Learning Community “Urban Education” returns with an international seminar on “Urban Education in Europe”. Hosted by CY Cergy Paris University on its Gennevilliers campus, the programme will bring together,  from 18 to 22 November 2024, students and academics from 6 universities: Babeș-Bolyai University, the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, CY Cergy Paris Université, the Technische Universität Dresden, the University of Gothenburg, the University of Ljubljana, and the University of Warwick.
 

This seminar marks the programme’s second edition, following the inaugural event in Brussels in 2023. Approximately thirty students and academics are expected to engage in research on issues addressed by the EUTOPIA “Urban Education” Learning Community.

This “Urban Education in Europe” seminar exists thanks to the ERASMUS+ Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) and obtained support locally from CY’s EMA (Ecole, Mutations, Apprentissages) research laboratory, which focuses on educational sciences and training methodologies, the Versailles National Higher Institute of Teaching and Education (INSPE), CY Advanced Studies, and EUTOPIA.

Event Highlights

1. Film Screening

On Monday, 18 November, the programme will begin with a preview screening of *Elementary*, a documentary by director Claire Simon, at the Jean Vigo Cinema (1 Rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 92230 Gennevilliers). The screening begins at 6:00 pm, with doors opening at 5:45 pm. *Elementary*, screened with English subtitles, offers an in-depth look into the dynamics of French education. After the film, Claire Simon will discuss with the audience from 7:45 to 8:30 pm. This exclusive preview precedes the national release set for January 2025. Support for the screening comes from the Artistic and Cultural Education Department of INSPÉ de l’académie de Versailles. Further details about the film can be found [here](http://clairesimon.fr/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Dossier-de-presse-APPRENDRE.pdf).

2. Lectures on Inclusive Education

On Wednesday, 20 November, from 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm, two esteemed scholars will present lectures on inclusive education in Room B018 on the Gennevilliers campus.  

• Professor Girma Berhanu of Gothenburg University, Sweden, will deliver a lecture titled “Trust, Social Capital, and Relational Pedagogy: Advancing Inclusive and Sustainable Learning Environments for Pupils with Special Educational Needs.”  
• Professor Peter Hick from Edge Hill University, United Kingdom, will explore “Inclusive Learning and Equity in Urban Education: Untangling the Cultural Construction of Difference.”  

3. Participatory Photo Essays Presentation

On Friday, 22 November, from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm, BIP students will present their participatory photo essays in the Gennevilliers campus plenary lecture room. These essays, developed throughout the week, reflect the participants’ perspectives on urban education and the critical themes explored during the programme. This event provides an interactive platform for attendees to engage with the students’ work and gain a visual understanding of urban educational challenges and innovations across Europe.

All events are free and open to the public, subject to seating availability. Prior registration is required and can be completed via this link. For further information on the BIP programme or the “Urban Education” Learning Community’s activities, please contact Philppe Bongrand or Muriel Epstein.