On the 29-30 September 2025, the four team members of the ECML project “Using ECML resources to support plurilingual and intercultural education for democratic culture” convened in Graz for an intensive development meeting. The primary aim was to advance the project’s core output: a structured pathway designed to help stakeholders adapt and implement ECML resources in diverse educational contexts. The team dedicated significant time to refining the content and structure of this pathway, ensuring it is both practical and inclusive for educators, policymakers, and other key actors.

In addition to this, the team worked on the development of a supporting framework and explored the integration of a chatbot – ARPI – as a digital companion to guide users through the pathway. This innovative tool is intended to enhance accessibility and provide tailored support throughout the implementation process. The meeting also provided a valuable opportunity to review progress, align on final elements of the project, and ensure coherence across all outputs.

Parallel to these developments, the team finalised a glossary of key terms relevant to the project. Preparations for the upcoming workshop in April 2026 were also advanced, with plans to pilot both the pathway and ARPI during the event. This practical testing will be a crucial step in evaluating the usability and impact of the project’s outputs in real-world settings.

Kenia Puig i Planella, project coordinator

• The project  “Using ECML resources to support plurilingual and intercultural education for democratic culture” www.ecml.at/arpide is one of the eight projects conducted within the framework of the ECML Programme 2024-2027 “Language education at the heart of democracy”

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ARPI, ein digitaler Begleiter für Nutzer:innen von EFSZ-Ressourcen

Am 29. und 30. September 2025 trafen sich die vier Mitglieder des EFSZ-Projekts „EFSZ-Ressourcen zur Förderung von mehrsprachiger und interkultureller Bildung für eine Kultur der Demokratie“ in Graz zu einem intensiven Arbeitstreffen. Hauptziel war es, das zentrale Projektergebnis – einen strukturierten Entwicklungsweg, der Akteur:innen bei der Umsetzung von EFSZ-Ressourcen in unterschiedlichen Bildungskontexten unterstützt, –  voranzubringen. Das Team arbeitete insbesondere an der inhaltlichen und strukturellen Ausgestaltung dieses Weges, um ihn für Lehrkräfte, Bildungspolitiker:innen und andere relevante Zielgruppen praxisnah und inklusiv zu gestalten.

Ein weiterer Schwerpunkt lag auf der Entwicklung eines digitalen Begleittools, eines Chatbots namens ARPI, der Nutzer:innen bei der Orientierung durch den Entwicklungsweg unterstützen soll. Dieses innovative Instrument soll den Zugang erleichtern und gezielte Unterstützung bei der praktischen Anwendung bieten. Darüber hinaus wurde das Glossar des Projekts abgeschlossen sowie die Vorbereitungen für den Workshop im April 2026 vorangetrieben. Dabei soll der Entwicklungsweg gemeinsam mit ARPI erstmals erprobt werden – ein entscheidender Schritt, um die Anwendbarkeit und Wirkung der Projektergebnisse in der Praxis zu evaluieren.

Kenia Puig i Planella, Projektkoordinatorin

• Das Projekt „EFSZ-Ressourcen zur Förderung von mehrsprachiger und interkultureller Bildung für eine Kultur der Demokratie“ www.ecml.at/arpide ist eines von acht Projekten im Rahmen des ECML-Programms 2024-2027 „Language education at the heart of democracy“

The ECML project “Using ECML resources for plurilingual and intercultural education for democratic culture” recently held a two-day network meeting with 13 experts from across Europe to evaluate the project tools being developed. The meeting, designed to enhance the adaptation of ECML resources, provided a platform for dynamic discussions and insightful feedback from participants.

Sessions began with an overview of key documents, including the Council of Europe recommendation and the Competences for Democratic Culture Framework. This was followed by explorations of strategies for localising ECML resources. A significant highlight was the introduction of the adaptation grid and checklist, key tools designed to support educators and policymakers in aligning existing resources with their specific needs. 

The second day focused on group work to improve the adaptation framework, brainstorming ways to integrate and search for resources in the ECML database. Feedback emphasised the need for establishing clear links between plurilingual education and democratic culture and identified challenges in adapting resources to local contexts. Several suggestions for adjusting the presented tools were discussed, including exploring the power of AI as a search engine, and developing structured scenarios for different levels of the adaptation.

The meeting underlined the project's commitment to inclusivity and flexibility in resource use. Follow-up actions include refining tools, addressing participants' concerns, and supporting the practical application of ECML resources in diverse educational contexts. Stay tuned for more updates!

Kenia Puig, Miranda Karjagdi Çolak, Eva Vetter, Nermina Wikström 

• A new Council of Europe Recommendation on the importance of plurilingual and intercultural education for democratic culture 
• Reference Framework of Competences for Democratic Culture (RFCDC)

• ECML project website “Using ECML resources for plurilingual and intercultural education for democratic culture” (2024-26) (available in English and German) : www.ecml.at/arpide

As part of the ARPIDE project's dissemination efforts, the project coordinator, Kenia Puig i Planella, and Miranda Karjagdi Çolak, project team member, presented a workshop at the Eaquals Online Conference (11-12 October 2024). The workshop focused on supporting quality practices in language education by promoting plurilingual and intercultural education for democratic culture, aligned with the Council of Europe's Recommendation CM/Rec(2022)1. 

Participants explored how to strategically use ECML resources to enhance teaching and learning outcomes, aligning educational goals with competences for democratic culture. Through hands-on examples, the session demonstrated how teachers and institutions can adopt plurilingual and intercultural practices. Participants engaged with toolkits and real-life case studies, gaining insights into practical strategies for improving language teaching across Europe.

This workshop reinforced the ARPIDE project's commitment to fostering plurilingualism and intercultural understanding, contributing to sustainable educational improvement across diverse contexts.

   
Using ECML resources to support plurilingual and intercultural education for democratic culture
www.ecml.at/arpide

Miranda Karjagdi Çolak