Belfast, United Kingdom

Remembering the Difficult Past through History and Heritage Education

when 19 March 2016 - 25 March 2016
duration 1 week
fee EUR 570

Societies which have experienced conflict and reached a peace accord have difficulty in moving from "negative" to "positive" peace. Often remembering and commemorating the difficult past presents particular challenges in the reconciliation process for governments, civil society and history educators. Northern Ireland is no exception to this.


This conference will take place close to Easter, 2016. In the spring and summer of that year two important events are being commemorated locally, the Easter Rising and the first day of the Battle of the Somme, both of which, subsequently, have helped shape cultural and political attitudes in Northern Ireland.

These occasions can be exclusive and therefore cause community tensions but there is also the potential to re-examine their significance from a wider range of perspectives including the present and, thereby, re-imagine the contribution this deeper understanding might make to building a transformative peace. Participants attending the conference would have the opportunity to engage with the on-going debate within civil society as to how best these events might be handled, to experience educational initiatives to help young people better understand the Decade's historical and contemporary importance and to reflect on how similar events are remembered in their own countries.

These and more questions on the environment of the history educator in 21st century will be the points to peer-learn on 6 full course days at a Unique International Conference.

Course leader

Conference Manager: Aysel Gojayeva (aysel@euroclio.eu)
EUROCLIO Director: Jonathan Even-Zohar (jonathan@euroclio.eu)

Target group

The course is embedded in the 23rd EUROCLIO Annual Conference, which aims to bring together around 200-250 History Educators from all of Europe and beyond for a rich and active programme of 6 days, filled with debated, discussions, presentations, workshops, on-site study visits to commemoration sites, schools and educational establishments, city tours and receptions and a social-cultural programme that connects colleagues internationally in a fun and friendly way.

Course aim

History, Heritage and Citizenship Educators are encouraged to take part in this unique International Training Course, as it aims to achieve for individuals the following outcomes:

1. Increased participation and dialogue in European Community of History Educators.

2. Raised awareness of cultures and identities through field trips, and reflection on the teaching of history across Europe.

3. Access to new partnerships, including schools, local, regional, national and international educational authorities and institutes in different fields and sectors.

4. Recognition of developed competences in history education through lifelong learning in the international context.

5. Access to innovative history education tools from across Europe with a focus on education for peace.

6. Improved English-language competence through facilitated and engaged dialogues.

7. Understanding the challenges related to dealing with public commemoration in divided societies.

8. Conference report for wider dissemination, including educational resources, and academic papers.

Fee info

EUR 570: Conference Fee: This is not inclusive of accomodation fees.