Recently, students at Gower College Swansea were offered a unique opportunity to participate in MixUp!, a digital platform initiative, to debate a series of topics with each event focusing on a specific theme. They engaged with peers from the Netherlands, Finland, France, Italy, Portugal and Spain. This month’s topic was Human Rights, chosen to coincide with the Anniversary of the Declaration of Human Rights, which was signed by the UN on 10th December 1948 to prevent atrocities of the Holocaust ever happening again.
The MixUp! platform was developed to promote dialogue between students from different European countries, backgrounds, and viewpoints. Aimed at Vocational Education and Training (VET) learners aged 16–18, it encourages active engagement with citizenship education while also providing a useful tool for teachers delivering related topics.
Students can access the MixUp! platform through any device capable of running the software. During each session, they respond to statements on a chosen theme and are then matched with a conversation partner with a different perspective from another country. The pairs take part in anonymous, one-to-one discussions supported by the Vox Bot—an automated assistant available to guide them if needed.
By connecting students with peers who may hold differing perspectives on civic issues, the MixUp! platform helps to foster meaningful, student-led discussion. It also supports teachers in overcoming challenges around engagement, and helps learners build their confidence and competence in debating citizenship topics.
Open public debate is more important now than ever. As a key part of a healthy democracy, it allows individuals to hear different viewpoints, reflect on their own values, and develop a deeper understanding of complex issues.
Local and International students from Gower College Swansea who took part described the experience as enlightening, particularly the chance to discuss Human Rights with peers from across Europe. They are already looking forward to future theme days, which will include topics such as the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and Coexistence in Peace.