Athens Council of Europe Simulation 2020:

“The role of Education in protecting Cultural Heritage from Climate Change”

The Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs of the Hellenic Republic and the UNESCO Chair on Climate Diplomacy hosted by the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece (Institute of European Integration and Policy) are pleased to announce the organization of “Athens Council of Europe Simulation 2020” (ACoES) to be held virtually on October 22 and 23, 2020, under the auspices of the Greek Chairmanship of  the Council of Europe (CoE).

“ACoES” will be a two-day simulation of the Committee of Ministers, the CoE’s decision-making body. The event is open to 47 undergraduate students, representing all CoE member-states. Participants will be assigned the roles of Ministers of Education, promoting their policy positions and negotiating on the “The role of Education in protecting Cultural Heritage from Climate Change”.

The main goal of the simulation is to trigger a broader political dialogue among CoE’s member states on the development of a comprehensive educational policy approach to the cultural heritage and climate change nexus in line with the following priorities of the Greek Chairmanship of the Council of Europe:

-  Education and Democratic Culture, and

-  Protecting cultural heritage from climate change and safeguarding the right of the younger generation to unhindered enjoyment of cultural heritage.

Participants will have to attend two preparatory lectures to be delivered virtually as well. The first one will address the procedural matters of the simulation and institutional aspects of the CoE, as well as the agenda topic. The second one will be a “mock session” in order for the participants to familiarize themselves with the rules of procedure of the simulation. During the preparation phase, participants will be required to write a position paper, summarizing their country’s positions on the agenda topic, on which they will be given feedback by the Board of the simulation.

During the simulation, students are expected to deliberate on the proposed agenda item, to draft and produce an outcome document in line with the formal institutional procedures and working methods of the Committee of Ministers. The document will in turn be presented at the meeting of the Ministers of Education to be held in Athens on October 29, 2020.

The working language of the simulation will be English, and it will be conducted virtually, through the “Zoom” online platform. There is no participation fee.

Participants will be selected taking under consideration the applicants’ profiles, their experience from prior participations in international organization simulations, as well as their motivation statement, which they will have filled in during the application procedure.

The deadline for applications is September 25, 2020 and the application form is available here.

Applicants will be informed for the course of their application by September 27, 2020, and participants will receive their study guides and relevant material shortly after.

The timetable of the simulation can be found below.

For any queries you may have, do not hesitate to contact the Organizing Team at info-eeep[at]pspa.uoa[dot]gr.