VAL-YOU: International Teacher Training in Vienna on European Citizenship

October 8, 2026

From 29 September to 1 October, Vienna hosted the international teacher training session organised as part of the European VAL-YOU project. The three-day event brought together teachers, trainers and citizenship education experts from several European countries, with the aim of promoting innovative approaches to teaching young people about European values.

Polygonal and the Altiero Spinelli Institute of Federalist Studies also actively participated in the training, joining forces to promote democracy, active participation, fundamental rights and European values among younger generations.

Empowering tomorrow’s European citizens through innovative methodologies

In a constantly evolving educational landscape, introducing secondary school students to the founding values of the European Union requires tools capable of stimulating not only learning, but also critical thinking, participation and dialogue.

Democracy, respect for human rights, equality and the rule of law are fundamental topics, but they can sometimes be challenging to address in the classroom. This is precisely the challenge addressed by VAL-YOU, a European project aimed at developing practical and accessible educational tools to help teachers engage students through innovative methodologies.

A central role is played by Digital Game-Based Learning, an approach that uses games and digital technologies as tools for learning.

The goal is to turn complex topics related to European citizenship into engaging educational experiences that encourage students to participate actively and develop their own critical perspective.

Teacher Training at the University of Vienna’s Game Lab

The international training took place at the prestigious Game Lab of the University of Vienna, where teachers, trainers and project partners spent three days exchanging experiences, experimenting with educational tools and contributing to the development of VAL-YOU resources.

The initiative was organised in close cooperation between the project partnership, the Austrian centre for citizenship education in schools, Zentrum polis, and the Vienna Forum for Democracy and Human Rights.

The programme combined theoretical sessions, practical workshops and hands-on experimentation with the educational tools developed as part of the project.

Polygonal and the Spinelli Institute: working together for Europe

The Vienna training brought together Polygonal and the Altiero Spinelli Institute of Federalist Studies, represented by its Director, Mario Leone.

Their joint participation represents another important step in the collaboration between Polygonal and the Spinelli Institute, two organisations that have long been committed to European education, training and awareness-raising, particularly among young people, teachers and local communities.

The VAL-YOU project fits naturally into this work, offering new opportunities to bring innovative educational tools and methodologies into schools and make European citizenship education more participatory and relevant to younger generations.

Three days of theory, gaming and hands-on learning

The VAL-YOU Teacher Training in Vienna was organised over three days, with each session focusing on a specific stage of the training and development process.

29 September – European values and active citizenship

The first day focused on the VAL-YOU project and on methodologies for addressing complex and controversial topics related to democracy and citizenship in the classroom.

Through discussions and practical activities, participants explored different approaches and tools for encouraging dialogue and critical thinking among students.

In the afternoon, the group visited Europa Experience in Vienna, where participants took part in an interactive role-playing game exploring the decision-making dynamics of the European Parliament.

The experience provided a valuable opportunity to understand how games can become effective educational tools for exploring institutional and political topics in the classroom.

30 September – Testing the VAL-YOU Serious Game

The second day focused on the educational use of video games and, in particular, on the serious game developed as part of the VAL-YOU project.

Teachers and project partners had the opportunity to test an early version of the game while working directly with the developers involved in its creation.

The testing phase made it possible to collect observations, suggestions and feedback that will be essential to improving the usability of the tool and assessing its educational effectiveness.

Direct feedback from teachers is a crucial part of the development process, helping ensure that the final product can be effectively used in the classroom and respond to the real needs of both teachers and students.

1 October – Toolkit evaluation and future perspectives

The final day focused on reviewing the prototypes of the lesson plans and the educational resources that will form the final VAL-YOU toolkit.

Participants reviewed the materials developed so far and provided further feedback aimed at improving their clarity, accessibility and practical application in schools.

At the end of the training, the project consortium met to plan the next steps, with a particular focus on finalising the educational resources and preparing their future dissemination.

Towards the release of the VAL-YOU Toolkit

The contribution of teachers, trainers and education experts involved in the Vienna training represents an important step towards completing the development of the VAL-YOU educational resources.

The project partnership is currently working on the final version of the toolkit, which will soon be made available free of charge to schools and educators across Europe.

The aim is to provide teachers with practical resources that can be used in the classroom to address democracy, European values and active citizenship through innovative and participatory methodologies.

For Polygonal, the work does not end with the Teacher Training in Vienna. In the coming months, the organisation will continue its work at local level through workshops, dissemination activities and training sessions for teachers, helping bring these innovative methodologies to local communities.

A new way of talking about Europe with young people

The VAL-YOU project demonstrates how education about European values can take on new forms and speak through new languages.

Through games, experimentation and active participation, topics such as democracy, rights, equality and citizenship can become concrete experiences capable of engaging students more effectively.

The Vienna Teacher Training was therefore not only an international training opportunity, but also an important occasion for professionals from different European countries to exchange experiences and educational practices.

It represents another step towards a school system capable of empowering informed, engaged citizens who can actively contribute to Europe’s future.