Isabel Baltazar, Coordinator of the UNESCO Chair "The City that Educates and Transforms", participated in the 27th Annual CiCea International Conference 2026. Held under the theme "Building Young People's Civic Journeys: Strengthening Democracies through Citizenship Education," the conference took place at the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences of the University of Porto from 28 to 30 May 2026. It brought together researchers and experts from various higher education institutions to discuss the challenges of citizenship education, democratic participation, and the strengthening of democracies through education.

Isabel Baltazar, a faculty member at ISEC Lisboa and Coordinator of the UNESCO Chair, presented the paper "The European Parliament Ambassador School Programme – Strengthening the Democratic Participation of Young People in Portugal" during a session dedicated to democracy, citizenship, and development.

In her presentation, she shared the Portuguese experience of the European Parliament Ambassador School (EPAS) Programme, highlighting how the initiative has brought young people closer to the European institutions while encouraging more informed, responsible, and active participation in democratic life.

Participation in this international conference further reinforces the role of the UNESCO Chair "The City that Educates and Transforms" as a platform for reflection, research, and the exchange of good practices in the fields of citizenship education, democracy, and human rights.