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CAPMK26HKI Civic Action and Participation (5cr)

Code: CAP0005B20S-3004

General information


Enrollment
10.11.2025 - 30.11.2025
Registration for the implementation has ended.
Timing
07.01.2026 - 15.02.2026
The implementation has not yet started.
Number of ECTS credits allocated
5 cr
Local portion
3 cr
Virtual portion
2 cr
Mode of delivery
Blended learning
Unit
Sosiaali- ja kirkonala
Campus
Helsinki
Teaching languages
English
Seats
0 - 100
Degree programmes
Bachelor of Social Services
Teachers
Mico Ylimäki
Leena Udo
Course
CAP0005B20S

Realization has 10 reservations. Total duration of reservations is 44 h 30 min.

Time Topic Location
Wed 07.01.2026 time 09:00 - 16:00
(7 h 0 min)
CAP/Independent study day
Thu 08.01.2026 time 09:00 - 16:00
(7 h 0 min)
CAP/Independent study day
Mon 12.01.2026 time 09:00 - 11:15
(2 h 15 min)
CAP/Orientation
HKI-327 Luokka 327
Thu 15.01.2026 time 09:00 - 12:00
(3 h 0 min)
CAP/Lecture
HKI-327 Luokka 327
Mon 19.01.2026 time 09:00 - 10:30
(1 h 30 min)
CAP/Tutoring
Zoom
Mon 19.01.2026 time 10:45 - 16:00
(5 h 15 min)
CAP/Independent study day
Thu 22.01.2026 time 09:00 - 16:00
(7 h 0 min)
CAP/Independent study day
Mon 26.01.2026 time 09:00 - 12:00
(3 h 0 min)
CAP/Lecture
HKI-327 Luokka 327
Wed 28.01.2026 time 09:00 - 12:00
(3 h 0 min)
CAP/Lecture
HKI-327 Luokka 327
Fri 13.02.2026 time 09:00 - 14:30
(5 h 30 min)
CAP/Final seminar and feedback
HKI-222 luokka 222
Changes to reservations may be possible.

Evaluation scale

0-5

Content scheduling

Orientation
Lectures
Independent and group work with assignments
Students' presentations in a final seminar

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

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

Teaching methods

Lectures
Group work
Interviews with activists and volunteer coordinators

Employer connections

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

Exam schedules

- No exam.

Completion alternatives

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

Student workload

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

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.

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