Avrupa Birliği Eğitim Politikası ve Kültürel Çeşitlilik Vurgusu

Abstract

The European Union, established after two devastating World wars, carries out policies in many areas. Although education policy is a late-developing policy area of the European Union, it comes to the fore as the cultural and social dimension of integration gains importance. As a fundamental principle of its education policy, the EU respects the diversity of its member states and undertakes the function of cooperation and coordination among the member states. Education policy finds its place in the founding texts for the first time with the Maastricht Treaty, and its main objectives are determined as creating the European dimension of education and strengthening the European identity. The EU has a rich diversity with the enlargement processes. In this context, diversity and inclusion standout as concepts that the EU education policy attaches importance to. In EU education policy documents, emphasis is placed on cultural diversity, such as inclusion and anti-discrimination. The protection and promotion of cultural diversity is also included in the education programs carried out in line with the education policy. The Erasmus Plus (+) program, which is currently being carried out, also includes references to cultural diversity in the 2021-2027 period. The relationship between cultural diversity and education policy constitutes an issue that needs to be taken into consideration in terms of determining the progress of the EU's next integration process and the direction of the EU identity that is desired to be created. Key Words: European Union, Education, Cultural Diversity, Educational Programs, Erasmus Plus (+)