University Civic Engagement: Making a positive impact on the world from the University

This course enables a better understanding of the role of universities and higher education institutions as institutions committed to improving and shaping the world into a better world.

Through theory, lectures, quizzes and case studies, this course aims to inspire members of the university community to implement ideas, actions and programs to develop university social engagement and make a positive impact on society and environment.

With this course, university members will acquire in-depth knowledge of the concept of civic engagement and its relevance for social, political and economic developments.

By learning tools and specific didactic methods, they will strengthen their ability to integrate civic engagement activities in their teaching activities or in the design of study programs.

The course supports university staff in making the relevance of their own work transparent and usable for society. By showing them ways in which they themselves can take on social responsibility in the field of education and research.

University Civic Engagement

University Social Responsability

University Third Mission

The aim of the micro-credential we present here is to be able to offer tools, competencies and skills that will enable participants to respond to the problems facing societies today. In this way, participants at the end of the course will acquire skills such as:

• Project design and implementation in Civic Engagement
• Community assessment and engagement
• Critical thinking and problem solving
• Leadership and advocacy
• Applied research and evaluation
• Intercultural communication and inclusive policies
• Digital literacy for Civic Engagement
• Adaptability and continuous learning

Participants also will learn how

• Introduce the concept of university civic engagement in their daily life
• To design projects based on social and environmental responsibility
• To find solutions to social and environmental problems.

Learning outcomes

• Understanding the concept of University Civic Engagement
• Learn through inspiring case studies how to initiate Civic Engagement actions and programs at the University
• Learn about the role of CIVIS Alliance universities in the field of civic engagement.
• Learn and understand the wide range of possibilities offered by university civic engagement actions.
• Understand the possibilities for partnerships with other external entities to strengthen the university's civic engagement role.
• Learning competences such as active citizenship, social entrepreneurship, awareness of social, cultural and environmental cases in vulnerable contexts, etc.

Online

• Module 1. Service-Learning
• Module 2. Volunteering
• Module 3. Applied and engaged research
• Module 4. Cultural heritage
• Module 5. Gender issues
• Module 6. Diversity and Inclusion
• Module 7. Open Labs
• Module 8. Integrating Refugees and Migrants

• Module 9. The Wits University (South Africa) Perspective on Civic Engagement
• Module 10.Inspiring ideas

This course is designed to provide you with the tools you need to feel confident and assured when incorporating aspects of civic engagement or social responsibility into your daily work at the university.

To assess your level of learning, the course offers three assessment tools that you must complete:

• Short quizzes that you have already taken in each module.
• A one-page individual essay on one of the topics covered in the course (modules 1 - 10), discussing what most caught your attention about this topic.

• And finally, a short essay of no more than 2–3 pages on a small civic engagement project you would like to launch at your university using what you’ve learned in this course. This essay will be evaluated through peer review, encouraging critical analysis and feedback from peers.

CIVIS Alliance University members. Specially, focused to lecturers, researchers, master’s students, doctoral candidates, university managers and administrative staff.
Language: B2 in English is needed.

Participants are required to submit a motivation letter demonstrating their interest in civic engagement, social responsibility and environmental awareness.

Course Director

• Silvia Arias Careaga, Head of the Office for Solidarity Action and Cooperation (UAM)

Teaching Staff

• Giulia Antinucci (SUR). Head of the Public Goods Production (culture and public engagement) Unit at the Third Mission Office of the Third and Fourth Mission Area.
• Silvia Arias (UAM). Head of the Solidarity and Development Cooperation Office.
• Victoria Axen (AMU). Project Manager, Student and Campus Life Department. 
• Irene Baldriga (SUR). Associate Professor.
• Julie Berhelier (ULB). Project Manager at the Global Citizenship Office.
• Isabelle Bruniau Di Monte (AMU). Head of the Student Engagement Programme Unit, Student and Campus Life Department.
• Valérie Caraguel (AMU). Coordinator of the CIVIS Open Labs at AMU.
• Issari Philia (NKUA). Professor and Director of the Research Laboratory for Qualitative Research in Psychology and Psychosocial well-being.
• Viorel Mihaila (UB). Professor and Head of the Department of Public Administration.
• Léa Moreau UNIL).  Executive Assistant and CIVIS Research Advisor
• Iris-Niki Nikolopoulos (UT). Head of Transdisziplinary Course Program & Civic Engagement.  
• Isabel María Osuna (UT). Member of the Civic Engagement expert group from the CIVIS Alliance.
• Karuna Singh (WITS). Head of the Citizenship and Community Engagement Programme at WITS