Recently, GoLOCAL led an international consortium to prepare and submit the Democracy EmpowerED project proposal for the HORIZON-CL2-2025-01 call under Horizon Europe — the EU’s flagship funding programme for research and innovation, particularly supporting the development of democratic, sustainable, and inclusive societies.
Preparing for Participation in Horizon Europe
The application process consists of several key stages:
defining a strategic idea, conducting analytical research, forming a consortium, developing the concept, and submitting the final proposal.
Each of these stages requires consistency, evidence-based justification, and engagement of diverse partners. One of the most critical elements is preliminary research and analysis, which provides the foundation for a well-grounded project rationale.
GoLOCAL Research: Analysis of 55 Digital Learning Centers
One of the most important steps for our team was conducting a study of 55 Digital Learning Centers (DLC) established by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine (MES) with the support of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). As a result, GoLOCAL analyzed how these centers contribute to education and community development.
The study evaluated:
- the integration of DLCs into the structure of vocational and technical education institutions;
- the role of digital and civic education in strengthening local communities;
- the state of equipment, its practical use, and needs for renewal;
- administrative challenges and the role of local coordinators.
The Democracy EmpowerED Project
The findings from this research formed the basis of the Democracy EmpowerED project proposal. In this initiative, GoLOCAL proposes transforming vocational education and training (VET) institutions into European hubs of civic education and digital democracy.
The goal is clear — by integrating social sciences, engineering, and applied technologies, to empower young people to develop critical thinking, digital literacy, and civic engagement within the VET sector.
The project brings together the experience of ten European and Ukrainian partners, building a shared ecosystem of democratic innovation — a space where education becomes a tool for strengthening public trust in democratic institutions.
GoLOCAL continues to advance its expertise in analytical research, educational project design, and international partnerships — and remains open to new initiatives and collaborations.
