According to the Council of Europe, Digital Citizenship Education (DCE) promotes the knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes needed for active, responsible, and democratic participation in digital society. Recognized as a key priority in European education policies, DCE supports human rights, inclusion, lifelong learning, and digital skills development for learners of all ages. It is considered essential for addressing the challenges of digital transformation through cross-curricular and lifelong learning approaches.

In line with these broader European priorities, the “Digital Citizenship Education (DigiCitizenEdu)” project has been developed as an Erasmus+ project co-financed by the European Education and Culture Executive Agency, running from 01.01.2026 to 30.06.2028. The DigiCitizenEdu consortium includes a total of five (5) organizations from four (4) countries, under the Coordination of "ALL DIGITAL" (Belgium), having as partners the "Fundacion Esplai Ciudadania Comprometida (ESPLAI)” (Spain), the "Solidar Foundation for Humanitarian, Development and European Cooperation (SOLIDAR)” (Belgium), the “Association for Social Innovations Association for Development of New Options Skopje (ARNO)” (North Macedonia), and the "Hellenic Open University-DAISSy Research Group (HOU)" (Greece).

Specifically, the DigiCitizenEdu project aims at empowering adult educators in both formal and non-formal education settings, and citizens with digital inclusion needs, by enhancing their understanding of Digital Citizenship, European common values, civic engagement, and democratic participation. The project promotes a shared European identity in the digital era, equipping educators with essential digital skills to facilitate inclusive learning experiences. The initiative builds upon the partners commitment to lifelong learning, leveraging the All Digital Academy (ADA) as its primary delivery platform for high-quality, accessible educational resources. Aligned with the Erasmus+ programme's objectives, DigiCitizenEdu promotes social cohesion, democratic engagement, and digital inclusion by integrating critical thinking, digital rights, media literacy, and AI-enhanced training methodologies into adult education. The project addresses the challenges posed by the digital transformation, ensuring that individuals—regardless of background, age, or prior knowledge—are empowered to exercise their rights and responsibilities in the digital sphere.

The DAISSy Research Group of the Hellenic Open University (HOU) is actively involved in the core project’s activities and deliverables. Drawing on its extensive expertise and long-standing experience, DAISSy leads the work package focused on the design, development, and delivery of the Digital Citizenship training course, including the design of the training pathway, the development of the training platform, and the coordination of the two training pilot cycles. Furthermore, the Research Group is responsible for the project’s Quality Assurance, ensuring the consistent monitoring, evaluation, and high-quality implementation of all project activities and outputs.