The Civic Education Lecturers Association (CELA) was founded on April 16, 2014. However, as a professional network, CELA has been around much longer. In 2011, with the support of a USAID program within the framework of ITEP, IFES initiated a course on Democracy and Citizenship at 6 institutions of higher education in Georgia. Later, the course has been launched at other 28 Georgian universities. The need for the course arose as a result of a lack of civic education courses at Georgian higher education institutions. In four years, the teaching of the Democracy and Citizenship course has succeeded in raising civic engagement among the students through student projects and other related activities that have positively impacted local communities.

Legal form

Non-profit organization

Objectives

Objectives of the Civic Education Lecturers Association are:

• to increase civic awareness and engagement in society
• to conduct research on civic education and engage in non-for-profit publishing and translation projects
• to promote the improvement of quality of the civic education course contents and interactive teaching methods
• to contribute to the professional development of civic educators

Main Activities

The Civic Education Lecturers Association implements activities to Support civic education teaching and researching in Georgian higher universities:

• Workshop of CELA members
• Students and alumni workshop
• Regular Meetings and Trainings of D&C experienced and new lecturers
• National and International Scientific Conferences
• Student Scientific and Video Conferences
• Presentation of the Best Student Action Projects and the Publication
• Discussion Series – Democracy Dialogues
• Essay competition and Summer School
• Guest Lecturer’s Visits
• Civic Education Scholarly Journal
• Update of D&C Material
•  Journal “CIVICUS”
• Civic Education Roundtables
•    Photo and Essay contest
• “Young Democracy Champion” Award

Strengths

Strong network of civic educators/professors (more than 50);

Strong network of alumni (more than 2500);

Partnership with 28 higher education institution in Georgia;

Finance and Main Partners

U.S. Agency for International Developments;

International Foundation for Electoral Systems 

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