Insights from the First I-CIVIC Secondments

Academic research thrives on cross-pollination. In the effort to rethink how we approach civic education and inclusion across Europe, sharing data sets is not enough; we must share research environments, methodologies, and cultural perspectives.
This principle is the driving force behind the I-CIVIC researcher mobility program. Over the past few months, the project has successfully initiated its first international secondments, facilitating direct knowledge transfer between leading academic institutions and cultural organizations.

By stepping outside their home institutions, our researchers are actively testing hypotheses in the field. Here is a look at the first two mobility exchanges and how they are shaping the methodological framework of the I-CIVIC project.

From the Basque Country to Siena

In December 2025, Andoni Arguiñano, Professor at the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), completed a research period at the Università di Siena in Italy.

Drawing from extensive experience in Horizon 2020 projects, Arguiñano’s current focus lies in pedagogical innovation—specifically through the lens of the Eskola Txikiak (Basque rural schools). His time in Siena provided a crucial opportunity to analyze how these specific models of flexible school organization and mixed-age learning can be translated into broader European educational policies.

Through comparative pedagogical analysis and qualitative observation, this exchange examined how decentralized, community-embedded learning structures foster early-stage tolerance and inclusive development. The empirical insights gathered during this mobility will directly contribute to an upcoming I-CIVIC joint working paper detailing scalable methodologies for inclusive rural education.

Tallinn meets San Sebastián

Broadening the research scope beyond traditional classrooms, the project also critically examines the impact of non-formal learning environments. In February 2026, Maja Soomägi, Programme Manager at Vabamu (the Museum of Occupations and Freedom in Tallinn, Estonia), was hosted by the UPV/EHU in Spain.

With a strong academic background spanning Uppsala and Glasgow, Soomägi leads the development of Vabamu’s educational materials. Her research intersects Estonian diaspora history and gender studies, exploring how historical narratives are curated and consumed by the public.

During her secondment at EHU, Soomägi employed qualitative assessments of curatorial practices to investigate how non-formal cultural spaces act as catalysts for civic awareness. By analyzing how different nations present complex historical trauma and civil rights movements, her research will inform the design of practical educational toolkits aimed at European museums and heritage sites.

Mapping the Continuum of Civic Identity

The theoretical strength of the I-CIVIC project lies precisely in bridging these diverse educational ecosystems.

Researcher mobility is more than a logistical exercise; it is the methodological foundation required to build a more inclusive society. These first secondments prove that whether in a rural classroom or a national museum, the tools to rethink democratic participation require collaborative, cross-border research and tangible, shared deliverables.

I-CIVIC is funded by the European Union, under Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA).