Peace education is one of the key priorities of the Normandy Region’s policy under the ‘Normandy for Peace’ initiative. Its aim is to foster a better understanding of major European issues and contemporary international challenges, whilst encouraging civic engagement.
This approach takes the form of projects, training courses and teaching resources designed for schools, teachers and pupils, in line with the educational initiatives of the Region and its partners.
The proposed initiatives include, in particular, the participation of sixth-form students in the Normandy World Forum for Peace, a university degree, the ‘Normandy for Peace’ classes, as well as other schemes, some of which are outlined below.
A booklet aimed at teachers lists all the initiatives carried out by the Region and its partners in relation to these themes.
University Certificate in “Human Rights and Peace Education”
Sponsored by the Normandy Chair for Peace and the University of Caen Normandy, this university degree program offers multidisciplinary training focused on human rights and contemporary peace issues.
Through courses in law, history, peace education, and neuroscience, it provides a solid academic foundation as well as practical tools for understanding, communicating, and promoting the values of peace, freedom, and democracy.
This course is aimed in particular at:
• students of law, history, political science, sociology or philosophy
• teachers and education professionals
• staff at NGOs, international organisations and development organisations
• lawyers, mediators and human rights professionals
• journalists and media professionals
Organised into four modules (83 hours of training), this diploma programme is a leading course for anyone wishing to deepen their understanding of human rights and strengthen their skills in the fields of education, citizenship and peace-building.
Ecoality : Raise awareness about environmental issues and gender inequalities in the face of climate change
Sponsored by the Normandy Region and the International Institute for Human Rights and Peace, Ecoality is a European program bringing together ten partner countries.
It invites high school students to reflect on the links between climate change (SDG 13) and gender inequality (SDG 5), while encouraging them to become agents of change in their communities.
The program is structured around three stages:
1. Learn
Classroom activities help students explore the project’s key issues and introduce them to the concepts of intersectionality, human rights, and sustainable development.
2. Reflect
Students meet with experts and community representatives to work together to devise concrete solutions.
3. Take Action
They then develop their own initiatives within their school or community.
The Normandy for Peace classes
The “Normandy for Peace” program invites students to explore how peace has been built in Europe since 1945 and how the European Union continues to play a vital role in preserving it today.
From the D-Day beaches to the European institutions in Strasbourg and Brussels, the proposed itineraries provide a practical way to explore European values, how the institutions function, and the importance of cooperation among member states.
This program supports teachers in planning an educational trip to Normandy, Strasbourg, or Brussels. A planning guide provides ready-to-use resources for designing field trips and classroom activities. The goal is to help students better understand the foundations of Europe, how it works, and its commitment to peace.
