Live: The Role of Education in Post-Conflict Societies

20. juni 2025 08:17
How can research and experiences from European schools and teacher education institutions contribute to political stability, democracy and peaceful co-existence in countries and regions which have experienced political instability and war?

With war in Europe, political instability and democratic values under pressure, it is worth asking how school and education can contribute to democratic coexistence. 

In cooperation with Borys Grinchenko Kyiv Metropolitan University (BGKU) and the European Wergeland Centre, we have invited experts from Ukrainian educational institutions, as well as teacher educators and school researchers from former war and conflict zones in Europe such as Northern Ireland, the Basque Country, Georgia and the Balkans. 

The goal is to build networks and identify transferable knowledge and experiences. In order to provide space for the participants to meet for dialogue and discussion, the seminar will have limited seats.

Opening remarks by Christen Krogh, Rector at OsloMet.


Thursday, June 19th

 

08.30-08.40

Welcome

 

Christen Krogh, Rector Oslo Metropolitan University 

 

 

08.40-09.00

Opening remarks

 

Olena Aleksandrova, Professor and Dean at the Borys Grinchenko Kyiv Metropolitan University

 

Ingrid Aspelund, Acting Executive Director at the European Wergeland Centre

 

Anders G. Kjøstvedt, Oslo Metropolitan University

 

 

09.00-10.00

Keynote I: Current and Future Challenges Facing the Educational System in Ukraine

 

Liliya Hrynevych

Vice-Rector V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University and former Minister of Education of Ukraine (online)

 

10.00-10.15

Short break

 

 

10.15-12.15

Part I. Ukrainian Challenges

 

Short presentations, followed by questions and discussion

 

Olena Aleksandrova, BGKU: The Role of Education in Strengthening Social Cohesion in Modern Ukraine

 

Tetiana Kostiuk, BGKU: Civic Roles and Social Responsibility of Universities in post-conflict societies  

 

Olha Vyhovska, Karazin University: Resilient Knowledge: Higher Education in Ukraine under Fire (online)

 

 

 

 

12.15-13.00

 

Lunch

 

13.00-16.00

Part II. Experiences From the Classroom and Practice Field

 

Short presentations, followed by questions and discussion

 

Iryna Sabor, The European Wergeland Centre: Changing functions of schools during the Russian war in Ukraine and democratic citizenship – insights from the Schools for Democracy Programme

 

Lesley Emerson, Queens University Belfast: The role of curriculum in conflict affected and transitional societies: building empathy and understanding through personal narratives  

 

Naiara Vicent, University of the Basque Country and Maren Melheim, former student at OsloMet: Coexistence and memory: A universal and exportable proposal to work on historical memory in teacher education?

 

 

 

Closing discussion

 

 

19.00 - 

 

Dinner at Revierhavnen Kro

 

 

 

 

Friday, June 20th

 

08.30-09.30

Keynote II: The Role of Education in Post-Conflict Societies. Challenges and Opportunities

 

Iveta Silova 

Associate Dean and Professor, Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation Arizona State University (online)

 

 

 

 

 

 

09.30-12.30

Part III:  School and Education in a Political Context

Short presentations, followed by questions and discussion

 

Caitlin Donnelly, Queens University Belfast: The Education System in Divided Societies: Lessons from Northern Ireland

 

Blerim Saqipi, University of Prishtina, Kosovo: The trajectory of education policy making in an evolving context - lessons from Kosovo

 

Goran Ilic & Elena Tilovska-Kechegi, University "St. Kliment Ohridski" - Bitola, North Macedonia: Title TBC

 

Rodoljub Jovanović, University of Belgrade: School and education in Serbia Between Past Conflict and Today’s Hybrid Regime.

 

Closing discussion

 

12.30-13.15

Lunch

 

13.15-16.00

Part IV: Contested Narratives of History and Society

Short presentations, followed by questions and discussion

 

Rodoljub Jovanović, University of Belgrade and Melisa Forić Plasto, University of Sarajevo (online): Youth and History Education in Bosnia and Serbia 30 years After the End of Wars in Former Yugoslavia

 

Naiara Vicent, University of the Basque Country

 

Natia Natsvlishvili, National Center for Teacher Professional Development Tbilisi: The Impact of Local, Regional, and Global Contested Narratives on the Implementation of Competences for Democratic Culture in Georgian School Education

 

Sergiu Musteata, Ion Creanga Pedagogical State University of Chisinau: Contested Historic and Identity Narratives in Moldovan Society (online)

 

Nanna Paaske, Oslo Metropolitan University: closing remarks and summary

 

16.00-16.30

Wrapping up and the way forward