Get Engaged! Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility

About

The course provides a platform connecting leaders from around the globe to build their capacity to work on solutions for crucial social issues. This is done primarily by contextualizing their own leadership experiences within the transnational framework of faculty and fellow participants. Exploring historical, philosophical, and practical elements of civic engagement, participants will consider the underlying question of what it means to be an engaged citizen in the 21st century.  Focusing on issues related to political participation, civil society, associational life, social justice, and personal and organizational responsibility, the course balances the study of theoretical notions of civic life while empowering participants to be active in the communities in which they or their institutions are situated. 

The course reflects on the causes of social, political, economic, and environmental issues and explores potential solutions through a series of lectures, workshops, discussions, and reflections. As a capstone, participants will work on designing and implementing their own project related to civic life and social responsibility.

Limited number of tuition waivers and scholarships are available.

Course leader

Flóra László (Civic Engagement, Arts and Culture Unit, Central European University), Chrysovalantis Margaritidis (Institute for International Liberal Education, Bard College,)

Target group

Course participants are already actively engaged in their communities, have worked on student or institutional initiatives, and have demonstrated leadership experience. There are no academic prerequisites but students need to complete a short application indicating their leadership experience, including their participation in relevant courses, workshops, programs or projects.

This course is most appropriate for undergraduate and graduate students and members of institutions and organizations with projects supporting their community. We provide a unique opportunity for participants to work within a diverse context which combines the local and global. Many participants do not have as wide an understanding of the challenges in communities outside their own and even when they do, it is not grounded on a theoretical framework. Internationalizing their experience helps participants better understand their own local context, which is enhanced through the exploration of the social and political ecosystem around CEU.

Fee info