Guidelines for the organsiation of online debates are published! 

In November and December, the EuroConnect team prepared the online event guidelines, focusing on the implementation of online debates on EU issues, curriculum discussions, and local issues.

The main aim of the guidelines is to outline clear methods, timeframes, and rules for conducting the online debates. The guidelines will serve as the main reference point for educators responsible for organising online debates between students from the University of Tartu, the University of Göttingen, and the University of Siena.

One of the main innovations of the guide is that each event follows a three-phase format inspired by the well-established Future Workshop methodology. Each phase serves a distinct purpose while contributing to an overall process of inquiry and transformation. In the Critique phase, participants identify and analyse problems, gaps, and frustrations related to the topic, building a nuanced understanding of what is perceived as “not working” without aiming for consensus. The Utopia phase shifts the discussion towards imaginative thinking, encouraging participants to suspend feasibility concerns and envision desirable futures in which identified problems are resolved. Finally, in the Realisation phase, participants translate these visions into practical steps, considering who should act, at what level, and what resources or changes are needed. Together, the phases move from critical reflection to visionary thinking and ultimately to realistic and actionable solutions.

In addition, all debate subtopics are democratically selected and voted on by the students participating in the workshop.

The guide is also designed so that other educators can adapt it to their own classroom settings and can be accessed below.