Education for the 21st Century from Serbia has been selected as the winner of the 2026 Max van der Stoel Award. The Award recognizes the work of this non-governmental organization to promote tolerance, inclusion and respect for diversity through education.
Since 2011, Education for the 21st Century has helped young people in Serbia and across the Western Balkans to understand the complexity of identity in a multicultural society, and how that is reflected in historical narratives and memory. The Belgrade-based organization is dedicated to modernizing education in a way that raises the visibility of national minorities, promotes inclusive historical narratives and supports social cohesion across the region.
The High Commissioner on National Minorities considers education to be a key policy area that can build tolerance and resilience in diverse societies.
The international Jury, chaired by OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Christophe Kamp, stated: “Through its efforts to create opportunities for representation, inclusion and equal participation in educational and cultural initiatives, Education for the 21st Century improves the position of national minorities. It builds on connections between different communities and strengthens regional co-operation to address national minority issues.”
The Jury specifically recognized the contribution of its founder and director, Lidija Županić Šuica.
Commenting on its unanimous decision, the international Jury said: “Education for the 21st Century uses history education and cultural heritage as tools to support societal change in the region. It promotes the development of critical-thinking skills with regard to historical narratives and minority groups, and utilizes intercultural understanding as a way of connecting communities with diverse historical experiences and identities. By creating spaces for exchange, collaborative learning and dialogue on shared histories and contemporary social challenges, the organization supports mutual trust among young people, educators and local partners, and thereby contributes towards the resolution of outstanding issues in post‑conflict societies.”
The Award of 50,000 euros was established by the Netherlands’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2001 in honour of the distinguished Dutch statesman and first OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, Max van der Stoel. It is awarded biennially to recognize a person, group or institution for extraordinary and outstanding achievements in improving the position of national minorities in the OSCE participating States.
The Award ceremony will take place in The Hague on 3 November 2026.
