Aesthetic and embodied learning for democracy
Welcome to the AECED Project Website
Democracy isn’t simply a technical process that involves you learning about its history, principles, rules and institutions. Democracy is a way of governing and a way of relating to each other that is a here-and-now experience.
This understanding sits at the heart of our work and the resources we are developing to support education for democracy in practice through integrating aesthetic and embodied approaches.
We’ll be introducing the project’s new resources at an online webinar launch on 4th March 2026, 10:30–12:30 CET / 09:30-11:30 UK time (120 minutes). You can read more by visiting our blog page and you can register here.
About AECED
Discover our mission to enhance education and promote democratic values through research and collaboration.
AECED Video Guide
Wondering what we mean by aesthetic and embodied learning for democracy? Watch this video guide for an explanation.
AECED Resources
Explore our wide range of resources designed to support educators and foster democratic principles in education.
Democracy
Learn about our efforts to advance democracy through educational initiatives and collaborative projects.
Pedagogy
Understand our innovative approaches to pedagogy that encourage critical thinking and active citizenship.
AECED Blog
Stay updated with our latest insights, research findings, and stories from the field on our blog.
Latest from the AECED Project Blog
Shaping education for democracy through an online course: A Portuguese approach to aesthetic and embodied learning
Recently, we have seen a remarkable shift towards deep and engaging learning experiences in Education. The incorporation of aesthetic and embodied learning approaches in which the body as well as the participant’s feelings and senses are brought into play has resulted in deeper engagement in online courses.
Collaboration, reflection, the exploration of democracy-as-becoming, and a visit to Lisbon
The AECED project thrives on collaboration, reflection, and the exploration of democracy-as-becoming. Across different contexts and institutions, our partners engage in building transformative educational practices that enhance democracy through aesthetic and embodied learning (AEL). This blog brings together reflections from three of our six partner institutions.
The Pomegranate Tale
AECED colleague Karine Oganisjana, Riga Technical University, shares her tale of democratic sensibility and transformation inspired by a pomegranate’s journey.
Partner Institutions
