From 27 to 30 September 2026, EducPro hosted in Braga the 3rd International Event of the ZA4NED project, entitled “The Digital Public Square”, bringing together participants from Portugal, Spain, Serbia, Slovenia, Estonia, Croatia, Italy and Hungary.

The event created a space for participants to explore some of the main challenges affecting today’s digital public sphere, including disinformation, media literacy, online political dialogue, democratic participation and the influence of digital technologies on communication and citizenship.

Connecting young people and European perspectives

One of the highlights of the programme was the workshop “Bridging Generations, Countries & Digital Realities”, which involved students in Braga in an interactive exploration of different European digital realities.

Through country-based activities and discussions, participants compared how social media is used across Europe, the types of disinformation commonly encountered in different national contexts, the characteristics of online political dialogue and the ways in which young people engage in civic and democratic life. The activity encouraged students to reflect critically on their own digital habits while discovering similarities and differences between countries.

Expert perspectives on media and the digital public sphere

The programme also included an expert session with Vítor de Sousa, researcher at UTAD/CECS with experience in communication sciences, journalism, identity, intercultural communication and media literacy, and Margarida da Silva Carvalho, a young communication and journalism professional. Their contributions opened a discussion on the role of journalism, media literacy and critical thinking in an increasingly complex information environment, while participants had the opportunity to ask questions and exchange perspectives directly with the speakers.

Another interactive activity, “Crisis in the Digital Public Square”, challenged participants to work in groups on scenarios related to digital communication and democratic life. By taking the perspective of different institutions and actors, participants explored possible responses to crises affecting trust, information and participation in the digital sphere.

Beyond the workshops and discussions, the 3rd International Event of ZA4NED provided an important opportunity to strengthen cooperation among the European partners and exchange experiences from different national contexts.

By hosting “The Digital Public Square” in Braga, EducPro contributed to creating a space for dialogue between young people, experts and European participants, promoting more informed, critical and active participation in the digital public sphere.

The activities developed in Braga reinforced one of the central ambitions of ZA4NED: supporting citizens, particularly young people, in becoming more aware and engaged participants in Europe’s democratic and digital life.