Shaping European identity through history education

Exploring the concept of the European Dimension

The European Dimension (ED) concept initially focused on fostering closer relations between the educational systems of different European countries. It has since evolved to encompass broader objectives, including the promotion of pupil exchanges, language teaching, international schools, teacher training and teacher mobility.

The ED covers three distinct ideas: education in Europe, education about Europe and education for Europe. This multifaceted approach underscores the importance of integrating European perspectives into educational practices across disciplines.

History teaching and the European Dimension

Based on the core principles of the ED, the European Dimension in History Teaching (EDiHT) aims to create and develop a sense of European identity among students. It does so by emphasising Europe’s political, social, economic and cultural knowledge, alongside the values of humanism, democracy and tolerance.

The European Association of History Educators (EuroClio) sees the EDiHT as vital for nurturing a European historical consciousness and promoting peace and democracy.

The EDiHT aims to:

• eliminate bias and prejudice from history teaching;
• reconcile the conflicts and disagreements between European countries by emphasising their historical unity and diversity;
• reflect political, social, economic, cultural and intellectual dimensions of history from various perspectives to represent Europe's multiculturalism;
• develop students’ skills in analysing historical documents and in questioning and recognising diverse perspectives.

Safeguarding history education

The Observatory on History Teaching in Europe (OHTE) was established in 2020 under the Council of Europe to support both the development of history teaching in European countries and the EDiHT.

By fostering a deeper understanding of European history and values, teaching the EDiHT equips learners with the knowledge and skills needed to contribute to a more cohesive and inclusive European community.