Project: DECODE – Democratic Education through CO-creation and Dialogue for Empowerment
DECODE is an international initiative that places student teachers at the center of efforts to develop teaching that strengthens democracy and inclusion.
Project information
Project manager
Mattias Lundin & Charlotte Silander
Other project members
Dr. Dirk Schulz, University of Cologne; Dr. Meghan Campbell, University of Birmingham; Dr. Jorge Garcia Marin, University of Santiago de Compostela; Dr. Manuela Ulrich, University of Konstanz; Dr. Sarah Roos, University of Konstan
Participating organizations
Linnaeus University; University of Cologne; University of Birmingham; University of Santiago de Compostela; University of Konstanz
Financier
EUniWell
Timetable
1 Nov 2025–30 Jun 2028
Subject
Pedagogy, Political science, Legal science, Sociology, Gender studies
Research groups
Research on pedagogical professions and practices (PEPP), Forskargruppen för värdepedagogisk forskning (only in Swedish) & Linnaeus Knowledge Environment: Education in change
Website
www.euniwell.eu/what-we-offer/seed-funding-programme/projects-of-the-eighth-seed-funding-call-2025/decode-teacher-resources-for-inclusive-democratic-education
More about the project
DECODE is an international initiative that places student teachers at the center of efforts to develop teaching that strengthens democracy and inclusion. Its starting point is that schools shape future citizens and that teacher education plays a crucial role in how open, safe, and equitable our societies become. In a time marked by racism, populism, and anti-LGBTQIA as well as anti-feminist rhetoric, future teachers need tools to create classrooms where everyone feels seen and respected.
The project builds on student teachers’ own accounts of everyday situations in higher education. These experiences are used to understand how norms influence inclusion and exclusion, and how professional competence can support change. By exposing hidden power structures, exploring their consequences, and testing alternative ways of teaching, DECODE aims to strengthen critical awareness and counter oppressive practices.
The goal is to develop concrete teaching resources that support teacher education and schools in working with democracy, participation, and diversity. Cases, examples, and reflection questions will help create open classroom climates and make it easier to address difficult topics.
The project also helps build networks between students and researchers across institutions, with the ambition of strengthening well-being and shared responsibility for inclusive learning environments. By bringing together students’ experiences with pedagogical development, DECODE creates new possibilities to make democracy come alive in the classroom and to equip future teachers to stand up for an open and just society.