Study Guide

Objective

The students will be able to:
• identify strategies in civic action and voluntary work
• apply different models of civic action and participation
• analyse the role of professionals in relation to different actors in civil society
• plan and implement different activities of voluntary work in communities
• recognise practices of power in civic action and voluntary work

Content

Contents:
• Strategies in civic action and voluntary work
• Models in civic action and participation
• Role of professionals in relation to actors in civil society
• Planning and implementation of voluntary work activities in communities
• Practices of power in civic action and voluntary work

Teaching methods

Lectures
Group work
Panel discussion or interviews with activists and volunteer coordinators

Location and time

8.1.2024-3.3.2024
Lectures and seminars: Helsinki campus
Guidance session for assignments: Zoom

Materials

Basic reading list for assignments (more reading materials will be provided in the beginning of the study module)

Aiken, M. & Taylor, M. (2019). Civic Action and Volunteering: The Changing Space for Popular Engagement in England. Voluntas: International Journal of Voluntary & Nonprofit Organizations, 30(1), 15–28.

Borkman, T. (2021). Self-help/mutual aid groups and peer support : A literature review. ProQuest Ebook

Gammage, R. J., & Foster, J. L. (2017). Leadership in community mutual support groups for mental health: A qualitative case study from the leaders’ perspective. Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology, 27(6), 463–475.

Evers, A. & von Essen, J. (2019). Volunteering and Civic Action: Boundaries Blurring, Boundaries Redrawn. Voluntas: International Journal of Voluntary & Nonprofit Organizations, 30(1-14).

Batsleer, J., Rowley, H., & Lüküslü, D. (Eds.). (2022). Young people, radical democracy and community development. Policy Press.

Chaney, P., & Jones, I. (Eds.). (2022). Civil society in an age of uncertainty : Institutions, governance and existential challenges. Policy Press.

Bell, K., & Reed, M. (2021). The tree of participation: A new model for inclusive decision-making. Community development journal.

Dull, B. D., Hoyt, L. T., Grzanka, P. R., & Zeiders, K. H. (2021). Can White Guilt Motivate Action? The Role of Civic Beliefs. Journal of youth and adolescence, 50(6), 1081-1097.

Eliasoph, N., & Cefaï, D. (2021). Bringing the Civic Landscape into Being: How Varied Patterns of Civic Action Respond to and Create Dilemmas in Empowerment Projects. International journal of politics, culture, and society, 34(2), 217-235.

Igalla, M., Edelenbos, J., & van Meerkerk, I. (2019). Citizens in Action, What Do They Accomplish? A Systematic Literature Review of Citizen Initiatives, Their Main Characteristics, Outcomes, and Factors. Voluntas (Manchester, England), 30(5), 1176-1194.

McCabe, A., & Harris, K. (2021). Theorizing social media and activism: Where is community development? Community development journal, 56(2), 318-337.

McGinnis, E., & Mitra, D. (2022). Civic action and student voice. Education, citizenship and social justice, 17(3), 268-281.

Taylor, M. (2020). Reflections on ‘community organizing for social action’, CDJ Thinkery, July 2019. Community development journal, 55(4), 704-709

Completion alternatives

- Can be agreed with the responsible teacher and Study Guidance Councellor before the study module or during the first week of the study module.

Employer connections

- Work life partners are activist and employees in various organisations in social services and NGOs.

Exam schedules

- No exam.

Student workload

1 ECT= 27 hours of students' work load.
5 ECTS= 135 hours of students' work load.

Content scheduling

Orientation
Lectures
Independent and group work with assignments
Panel discussion or students' presentations in a final seminar

Further information

- If the student is not able to participate to the study module and complete the assignments in given time frame, there will be an exam on a general exam day. This will be agreed with the responsible teacher.

Assessment methods and criteria

- The final written assignment is grade: 1-5/to be resubmitted
- Other assignments: pass/to be resubmitted.

Evaluation scale

0-5