Monday, October 24, 2016

Cultivating civic engagement

Civic engagement is a primary goal for many countries around the world. And one of the places where the greatest impact can be made is during the university years. The question is how to achieve this goal with maximum impact.

With the erosion of civility in the political discourse of the U.S.A., encouraging students to look at their role in civil society has become increasingly important. Julie Woleman, writing for Inside Higher Education, provides five conditions that have the potential to deepen the impact of universities' civic engagement initiatives: 1) identify the fundamental issues, 2) understand the issue in its broader context, 3) support faculty wok across disciplines, 4) develop leaders, and 5) strive for lifetime impact.

The above conditions are very important as higher education seeks to move from one-off exotic experiences to systemic change. Driving for deeper outcomes is important both in the U.S.A. as well as in international settings. One tool to help is the "Social Change Model of Leadership Development" which is being celebrated in numerous conferences this fall. On the occasion of its 20th anniversary, the "Social Change Model..." is recognized as one of the most widely used and best documented models among U.S.A. institutions and it is increasingly used around the world as well.

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