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

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