Abstract Book of the 9th International Conference on New Approaches in Education
Year: 2025
[PDF]
How To Develop Students’ Engagement In The Creation Of Civil Society? Tools For Participatory-Oriented Education
Dr. Lubomira Trojan
ABSTRACT:
The paper explores effective strategies for engaging students in the co-creation of civil society through participatory-oriented higher education. It focuses on practical tools and teaching methodologies that foster civic responsibility, social inclusion, and community-based learning. The presentation will feature Polish, German and Lithuanian experiences illustrating how participatory design, social mapping, stakeholder collaboration, and deliberative workshops can be embedded in academic curricula to enhance students’ sense of agency and democratic competence.
Research findings reveal how such engagement deepens students’ understanding of their role as active citizens and promotes sustainable social innovation within their communities. By involving students in real-life decision-making processes and urban development challenges, higher education institutions can become powerful catalysts for societal transformation.
The presentation provides a framework for integrating participatory civic education in academic programs, especially in the context of post-pandemic societal recovery and urban sustainability.
The case study and results are part of the international project HEIsCITI – HEIs as Innovative Triggers of Sustainable Development in European Cities in the Post-COVID-19 Era, which aims to strengthen the role of higher education institutions in supporting inclusive and sustainable urban development across Europe.
Keywords: civic participation, higher education, pedagogical methods, social innovation, urban development