Popular Universities In Europe As A Tool For Civic Engagement And Social Inclusion: Origins, Importance And The Case Of Valencia

This short communication briefly explores the origins of Popular Universities in Europe, with quotes from the Popular University of Valencia as a representative example of the Spanish model. These entities, which emerged in the 19th century under various names, shared common goals of promoting accessible education and civic engagement, and, at present, they continue to play a vital role in fostering lifelong learning and social inclusion, although, in many cases, they do not receive the recognition they deserve. The article therefore advocates for the revitalisation of these institutions within academic and policy discourse, urging renewed research to reconnect them with formal educational structures and align them with global development goals such as SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions).