At the Coimbra Group’s 40th Anniversary High-Level Seminar on “Reinventing Campus Democracy”, the University of Siena led a breakout session exploring how universities can help repair and rethink representative democracy. Building on the REDIRECT project’s analytical framework, the session focused on academic strategies for reconnection – strengthening the links between citizens and institutions by restoring trust, enhancing responsiveness, and revitalising democratic learning. Participants examined how universities can deploy governance reforms, innovative teaching, engaged research, and civic outreach to counter democratic erosion and support more inclusive, bottom-up forms of participation. The session mapped emerging scenarios, identified promising institutional practices, and outlined pathways for higher education to contribute to a renewed democratic ecosystem.
Date: 21 November 2025
Location: Brussels, Belgium
Partner: University of Siena (UNISI)
#CampusDemocracy #DemocraticReconnection #HigherEducation #REDIRECTProject #CoimbraGroup