Doing Democracy – Participatory Democracy in Times of Disinformation
Date/Time: Thursday, April 23, 2026 | 18:30 – 20:00 CET
Live from Frankfurt (Oder) City Hall, City Council Chamber — also available as Livestream via Zoom
Simultaneous interpretation into English
This ERUA DigiTalk is part of Doing Democracy: Connecting Academia and Civil Society Across Borders — a German-Polish networking event that creates a shared space for exchange between academia and civil society to address pressing questions of democracy, resilience, and participation across borders.
In times when democratic processes are increasingly challenged by disinformation, polarization, and declining trust, the event focuses on how participatory democracy can be strengthened in practice. Bringing together academic perspectives and hands-on experience from civil society, the discussion explores how democratic resilience can be fostered, which forms of participation are effective today, and how cooperation between research and practice can respond to emerging challenges.
Broadcast live from Frankfurt (Oder) City Hall, the roundtable features leading academics and civil society voices, moderated by Dr. Anja Hennig (European University Viadrina). Short spotlights from civil society actors will complement the discussion. The session will be opened by Claus Junghanns, Mayor of Frankfurt (Oder).
Who can attend?
- Citizens, students and academics interested in democracy and civic participation
- Civil society organizations and NGOs working on democratic resilience
- Researchers and practitioners in political science, governance, and media literacy
- ERUA community members across all partner institutions
- Anyone concerned about disinformation and its impact on democratic processes
The session is free and open to all.
Speakers – Panelists:
Welcome address:
Claus Junghanns, Mayor of Frankfurt (Oder)
Roundtable:
- Prof. Radosław Markowski — SWPS University, Warsaw
- Krzysztof Izdebski — Batory Foundation, Warsaw
- Prof. Gesine Schwan — Berlin Governance Platform
- Dr. Anne Holper — Center for Peace Mediation, EUV
Moderator: Dr. Anja Hennig, European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder)
Short spotlights from civil society actors will complement the discussion.
Keywords: Democracy, Participatory Democracy, Disinformation, Civil Society, Democratic Resilience, German-Polish Cooperation, Academic-Civil Society Dialogue, Civic Participation, Frankfurt (Oder)
Related to SDG 10:
Reduced Inequalities — inclusive civic participation, reducing barriers to democratic engagement across communities
Related to SDG 16:
Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions — strengthening democratic institutions and participatory governance
Related to SDG 8:
Decent Work and Economic Growth — democratic participation as a foundation for inclusive and resilient economies
Related to SDG 4:
Quality Education — fostering critical thinking, media literacy, and civic education to counter disinformation
Related to SDG 5:
Gender Equality — inclusive democratic processes that ensure equal voice and participation for all
Date/Time: Thursday, April 23, 2026 | 18:30 – 20:00 CET
Live from Frankfurt (Oder) City Hall, City Council Chamber — also available as Livestream via Zoom
Simultaneous interpretation into English
Tune in from wherever you are and join this timely conversation on democracy, participation, and resilience across borders!
Interested in attending or watching the livestream?
The session will be livestreamed. The recording will be made available after the event.
Info Session I for the Hack4impact Hackathon 2025
Date/Time: Monday, September 15, 2025
16:00 to 17:00 CEST
Learn more about Hack4impact by participating in this DigiTalk – Info Session!
Hack4impact is a Digital Hackathon that connects entrepreneurship (including social) with digital public sector reforms, skills and alignment with the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals). This approach showcases a unique initiative of the University of the Aegean, first-of-its-kind collaboration among the European Reform University Alliance (ERUA), the North Aegean Regional Development Fund and GR digiGOV-innoHUB.
Learn more about Hack4impact here: https://hack4impact.digigov.innohub.gr/en/home/
Who could attend?
We welcome:
- Participants from the ERUA community
- Individuals & technology start ups
- Teams and individuals from the #ERUAiDeaThon2024 and the Social Entrepreneurship Course
- Local stakeholders, social innovators and entrepreneurs from all ERUA regions
Hack4impact Challenges are linked to:
- Regional needs (digital transformation, emerging skills' needs & inclusive growth)
- ERUA's core goals (university-led reforms, social entrepreneurship)
- EU priorities (public sector reform, digital transition, SDGs, creative and interregional knowledge communities)
- ERUA thematic areas: Environmental Transition, Democracy and Human Rights, Interculturality and Multilingualism, Migration, Arts & Edges
This session was part of a 3-part Info-Day for Hack4impact Hackathon participants. Two subsequent internal sessions followed:
Speakers:
Haris Alexopoulos (DigiGov InnoHub), Katerina Taka (ERUA University of the Aegean), Alejandros Melidis (Open Technologies Alliance - GFOSS)
ERUA Students and Local Communities
Thursday, December 12, 2024
This event delved into the significant role of ERUA students in building connections and driving positive change within local societies. We explored how ERUA students gain transformative learning experiences in diverse social landscapes and the initiatives through which ERUA empowers students to navigate multicultural communities, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to become active agents of social transformation.
Agenda:
- Welcome and introduction: "Achieving Social Change in ERUA's Local Communities and Regions" - Prof. Evangelia Kavakli, UAegean
- ERUA Hackathon 2023 winners: "Inclusive Urban Mobility" - "S.D. Mobility" - Christoforos Tzannou, Nikolaos Foteinos, UAegean students
- ERUA iDeaThon 2024 winners: "Ideas for Social Entrepreneurship"
- "U-FIT" (Universities For Integration Through Training) - Susan Isobel Cranfield Mckay, ULPCG Lecturer
- "EIL" (Inclusive European Leadership) - Zahira Filomena Mucerino, Alessandra de Nicolo, UNIMC students
- "Mentoring for Social Impact: Connecting Entrepreneurs with Local Communities" - Efi Latsoudi, Social Scientist at R.S.A. NGO
- "Empowering Students to Tackle Social-Cultural Challenges with ICT" - ERUA Travelling Seminars - Asst. Prof. Angeliki Kitsiou, UAegean
- "Open Science & Social Entrepreneurship" - Asst. Prof. Harris Alexopoulos, Open Science Ambassador, UAegean
- Q&A & Closing remarks
Thank you to all participants, presenters, and students who made this event part of the #ERUADay celebrations.
Thursday, December 12, 2024
You can watch below or click here (via YouTube) for the recording of the Event
Creating Coexistence between Refugees and Host Communities: Social and Legal Challenges
Tuesday, May 21, 2024
This event was a unique opportunity to explore the social and legal challenges facing refugees and host communities, and to discover ways to foster social cohesion. The discussion brought together experts to examine both the social dynamics and legal frameworks necessary for successful integration.
Session Topics:
Dr. Ildiko Otova explored how migration has become a hot topic for populist rhetoric and crisis narratives in Europe. She examined how these narratives create symbolic universes of rejection and discussed why it's crucial to open public debates to authentic voices from migrants themselves. Through scholarly insights and practical field experience, Dr. Otova presented ways to promote social change and foster sustainable communities through embracing diversity.
Dr. Lucas Pérez explored the complexities of integrating unaccompanied minors, building upon the Canary Islands' emergency response. He discussed efforts to ensure compliance with international treaties, challenges posed by the current system, ongoing legislative modifications, and the proposed system that could help address the crisis and serve as a model for other EU Member States.
Dr. Theodoros Iosifides (University of the Aegean) moderated the discussion and facilitated the live Q&A session.
Who Attended:
Professors and students in humanities, political and social sciences, legal professionals, social workers, educators and school administrators, humanitarian workers and NGO professionals, policymakers, and individuals interested in supporting harmonious refugee-host community relationships.
Thank you to all participants who joined this event.
Tuesday, May 21, 2024
You can watch below or click here (via YouTube) for the recording of the Event
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