International Association of Educators   |  ISSN: 2834-7919   |  e-ISSN: 1554-5210

Original article | International Journal of Progressive Education 2012, Vol. 8(3) 140-150

Establishing a general framework civic competency for European youth

Joseph Chow

pp. 140 - 150   |  Manu. Number: ijpe.2012.049

Published online: October 15, 2012  |   Number of Views: 49  |  Number of Download: 417


Abstract

This paper proposes a project that aims to construct a general framework of civic competency that will help understand civic competence as a blended measure of civic knowledge, skills, attitudes, values, beliefs, behavioural intentions and behaviours. By distinguishing between civic potential, civic behaviour and civic outcomes, with empirical datasets from the International Civic and Citizenship Education Study (ICCS) on 14 year-old European students, the framework will describe how these constructs are related and measured, and show their impact on future civic competence and active citizenship. In this project, by considering the effect of different social, political and cultural contexts, the framework will accommodate measures of civic dimensions that are common to all societies as well as those specific to particular societies and regions. This will challenge the quest for a universal model for civic competence. Given that cultivating civically competent citizens ready for active citizenship is an important educational outcome for many educational systems, this paper has the potential to expand understanding of citizenship, citizenship education and the relation of the two.

Keywords: Civic competency, European youth, citizenship education, civic knowledge


How to Cite this Article?

APA 6th edition
Chow, J. (2012). Establishing a general framework civic competency for European youth . International Journal of Progressive Education, 8(3), 140-150.

Harvard
Chow, J. (2012). Establishing a general framework civic competency for European youth . International Journal of Progressive Education, 8(3), pp. 140-150.

Chicago 16th edition
Chow, Joseph (2012). "Establishing a general framework civic competency for European youth ". International Journal of Progressive Education 8 (3):140-150.

References
  1. Almond, G., & Verba, S. (1963). Civic Culture. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. [Google Scholar]
  2. Flanagan, C. (2008). Young people's civic engagement and political development. In A. Furlong (Ed.), Handbook of youth and young adulthood: New perspectives and agendas (pp. 293-300). London and New York: Routledge. [Google Scholar]
  3. Fratczak-Rudnicka, B., & Torney-Purta, J. (2001, October). Competencies for Civil and Political Life in Democracy. Paper prepared for DeSeCo‘s 2nd International [Google Scholar]
  4. Symposium. Neuchâtel, Switzerland: Swiss Federal Statistical Office. Retrieved from http://www.portalstat.admin.ch/deseco/expert_opinions_fratczak_torney_purta.pdf [Google Scholar]
  5. Higgins-D'Alessandro, F. (2010). The Transdisciplinary Nature of Citizenship and Civic/Political Engagement Evaluation. In L. Sherrod, J. Torney-Purta, & C. Flanagan. (Eds.) Handbook of research on civic engagement in youth. (pp. 559-592). New York: John Wiley. [Google Scholar]
  6. Hoskins, B., Barber, C., Van Nijlen, Daniel, & Villalba, E. (2011). Comparing Civic Competence among European Youth: Composite and Domain-Specific Indicators Using IEA Civic Education Study Data. Comparative Education Review, 55(1), 82- 110. [Google Scholar]
  7. Hoskins, B., d'Hombres, B., & Campbell, J. A. (2008). Does formal education have an impact on active citizenship behaviour? European Educational Research Journal, 7(3), 386- 402. [Google Scholar]
  8. Hoksins, B & Crick, R. D. (2010). Competences for Learning to Learn and Active Citizenship: different currencies or two sides of the same coin? European Journal of Education, 45(1), 121-137. [Google Scholar]
  9. Hoskins, B., Villella, E., Van Nijlen, D., & Barber, C. (2008). Measuring Civic Competence in Europe: A composite Indicator based on IEA Civic Education Study 1999 for 14 years old in School. European Commission [Google Scholar]
  10. Hoskins, B., Villalba, C., & Saisana, M. (2012). The 2011 civic competence composite indicator (CCCI-2): measuring young people‟s civic competence across Europe based on the IEA international citizenship and civic education study. Ispra, Italy: European Commission. [Google Scholar]
  11. Kennedy, K. J. (2006, July). The dimensionality of 'active citizenship': Students constructions of participation in democratic societies. Paper presented at the 26th International Congress of Applied Psychology, Athens, Greece. [Google Scholar]
  12. Kennedy, K. J. (2007). Student constructions of 'active citizenship': What does participation mean to students? British Journal of Educational Studies, 55(3), 304-324. [Google Scholar]
  13. Kennedy, K. J., Hahn, C. L., & Lee, W.-O. (2008). Constructing citizenship: Comparing the views of students in Australia, and the United States. Comparative Education Review, 52(1), 53-91. [Google Scholar]
  14. Kennedy, K. J., Mok, M. M. C. & Wong, M. Y. W. (2012). Developing political trust in adolescents: Is there a role for schools? In B. Curtis (Ed.) Psychology of Emotions, Motivations and Actions. New York: Nova Publishers. [Google Scholar]
  15. Mok, K. H. (2005). Riding over Socialism and Global Capitalism: Changing Education Governance and Social Policy Paradigms in Post-Mao China. Comparative Education 41(2), 217–242. [Google Scholar]
  16. Ringarp, J., & Rothland, M. (2010). Is the grass always greener? The effect of the PISA results on education debates in Sweden and Germany, European Educational Research Journal, 9(3), 422-430. [Google Scholar]
  17. Rutkowsi, D., & Engel, L.C. (2010). Soft power and hard measures: Large-scale assessment, citizenship and the European Union, European Educational Research Journal, 9(3), 381-395. [Google Scholar]
  18. Schulz, W., Ainley, J., Fraillon, J., Kerr, D., & Losito, B. (2010). ICCS 2009 International Report: Civic knowledge, attitudes and engagement among lower secondary school students in thirty-eight countries. Amsterdam: IEA [Google Scholar]
  19. Torney-Purta, J. & Amadeo, J.-A. (2011). Participatory Niches for Emergent Citizenship in Early Adolescence: An International perspective. The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 633, 180-200. [Google Scholar]
  20. Torney-Purta, J., Lehmann, R., Oswald, H., & Schulz, W. (2001), Citizenship and education in twenty-eight countries: Civic knowledge and engagement at age fourteen. Amsterdam: IEA. [Google Scholar]
  21. Torney-Purta, J. & Lopez, S.V. (2006). Developing citizenship competencies from kindergarten through grade 12: A background paper for policymakers and educators. Denver: Education Commission of the States. [Google Scholar]
  22. Torney-Purta, J. & Wilkenfeld, B. (2010). Experience in Civic Education Classrooms Associated with Students‟ Achievement and Engagement in Three Post-Communist Countries. Paper presented at the 4th IRC 2010, Gothenburg. [Google Scholar]
  23. Watson, K. (2001). Doing Comparative Education Research: Issues and Problems. Oxford: Symposium Books. [Google Scholar]