On 1 December 2025, REDIRECT held an online Lunch Debate bringing together a distinguished panel of scholars and student activists to discuss how universities can engage young people in conversations about democracy’s crisis. Guest speakers included Aleksandra Sojka (Universidad Carlos III de Madrid), Stanley Bill (University of Cambridge), Rita Hornok (Jagiellonian University), and Yunus Poblome (student and activist at Vrije Universiteit Brussel). The session was moderated by Magdalena Góra and Katarzyna Zielińska of Jagiellonian University. The debate highlighted the challenges of teaching democracy in an era of democratic backsliding and widespread distrust. Speakers stressed that theoretical instruction alone is insufficient: experiential methods, such as simulations, structured debates, and participatory exercises, are essential for helping students understand the complexities of democratic negotiation. Overall, the event reinforced the idea that universities occupy a pivotal position in responding to democratic erosion, both by teaching democratic history and by cultivating the skills, spaces, and confidence necessary for meaningful democratic engagement.
Date: 1 December 2025
Location: Jagiellonian University, Poland
Partner: Jagiellonian University (JUK)
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