Supported by: Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAS)

Time Span: 2007 - 2010

Main Institute: Department of Social and Biological Communication SAS (KVSBK SAV), Chief of the Centre of Excellence: Prof. PhDr. Jana Plichtová, PhD (KVSBK SAV)

Cooperating institutions: Institute of Sociology SAS, Institute of Philosophy SAS, Institute of Ethnology SAS, Faculty of Philosophy of the Comenius University in Bratislava, Institute for Public Affairs, Partners for Democratic Change – PDCS, Citizen and Democracy.

IVO Project Team: Martin Bútora, Zora Bútorová, Oľga Gyárfášová.

Objectives: The goal of the Centre of Excellence is to integrate existing capacities and create optimal conditions for cooperation between top specialists in the field of civil participation.

This will include:

1. Complex and integrated research on citizenship and participation that will provide basic information about the situation, level and form of citizenship and civil participation in Slovakia in the context of European integration.

2. Association of theoretical, research and practical institutions, which will allow for a direct testing of the theoretical assumptions, in actual intervention, educational programmes and programmes for stimulation of civil participation.

3. The Centre of Excellence COPART will also participate in the preparation of young scientists and researchers, mostly by guiding doctorands in various scientific disciplines (psychology, sociology, philosophy, political science) and organizing a summer school.