Partners of the ActiPlex consortium meet in Groningen

Partners of the Erasmus+ project ActiPlex consortium conducted in Groningen for a key meeting, bringing together teams from Tartu, Groningen, Warsaw, and Berlin. The meeting provided an opportunity to consolidate results, refine educational tools, and plan future dissemination and collaboration.

Discussions focused on project outcomes and practical implementation, alongside a workshop titled “Teaching Opinion Dynamics and (De)Polarisation” with teaching staff of the University of Groningen. This session generated valuable feedback on the practical applicability of the workshops in the teaching activities.

One of the project’s central achievements is the MOOC “Growing Apart: What Is Polarisation and What Can We Do About It?”. Designed to help young people better understand societal divisions, the course combines simulation models, game-based learning, and storytelling. Learners follow the story of Mel and Ian in the fictional city of Bridgestone, making complex concepts more accessible through relatable scenarios. The course is supported by video lectures, animations, quizzes, simulations, and discussion forums.

The MOOC has reached a broad audience across platforms. More than 500 learners have enrolled in the FutureLearn course, while 441 participants have successfully completed the Moodle-based version at the University of Tartu. At the University of Warsaw, the course has been adapted into a wider course “Micro to macro. Social processes and individual behaviour”, helping students connect individual interactions with wider societal dynamics.

Another key output is the “Paper-Clip Game of Opinions“, an interactive workshop activity for university and high school students. The game has already engaged more than 500 participants, including sessions in schools in Poland and Estonia. It offers a safe and engaging way to explore how opinions evolve and how polarisation emerges through interaction.

ActiPLEx has also contributed to international academic exchange. At the 5th ISA Forum of Sociology in Rabat, partners facilitated a workshop where educators tested the game and provided feedback, helping to further strengthen the project’s materials and ensure their adaptability across different contexts.

“We are very happy to see that the project has achieved impressive results, reaching an audience of 1,500 participants who actively engaged with its materials. Both the numbers and the feedback we got from students, confirm there is a real need to have a dialogue about polarisation” – noted Agata Komendant-Brodowska, the project coordinator from the Univeristy of Warsaw.

“At the University of Tartu, we have seen how strongly students respond to interactive, research-based learning. When complex societal issues are made accessible and engaging, learners are eager to participate, reflect, and discuss” – Anna Beitane, the Head of Digital Education Projects.

For additional information about the project, please contact Anna Beitane, Head of Digital Education Projects: anna.beitane@ut.ee

The ActiPlex consortium

The “Action for Interactive Anti-Polarisation Learning Experiences for a Better Democracy” consortium provides students and other interested parties with the tools to understand and experience the mechanisms of polarisation. In ACTIPLEX, the University of Warsaw (project leader), the University of Groningen, the University of Tartu, Manchester Metropolitan University, and HIIG are collaborating closely. The initiative is funded by the European Commission’s Erasmus+ programme.

Press Contact

Frederik Efferenn | Tel. +49 30 200 760 82 | presse@hiig.de

The Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society (HIIG)
The Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society (HIIG) researches the development of the internet from a societal perspective to better understand the digitalisation of all areas of life. As Germany’s first research institute focused on Internet and Society, HIIG emphasises embedding digital innovations within social processes. Based on its interdisciplinary expertise and as part of the Global Network of Interdisciplinary Internet & Society Research Centers, HIIG seeks to develop a European response to the challenges of digital transformation.