Edge Hill University
Student civic engagement: From adversity to flourishing
Student civic engagement is important in fostering a lifelong commitment to participation and social responsibility. It is also associated with a sense of belonging to the place in which students are studying which can promote a desire to want to contribute to its improvement through knowledge and action. It can also raise the profile of a university in its neighbourhood for positive reasons.
This presentation outlines the ongoing civic engagement work that a group of EHU staff and students is involved in which has included projects on democracy and public transport. Its focus, though, is on the personal benefits to the students involved. We have come to realise that the majority of us who are drawn to this work have experienced trauma and adverse life experiences in the past. Working relationally to address social justice issues can be a way of reframing these.
We suggest that student civic engagement might be beneficial for the flourishing of students, as well as the flourishing of communities and neighbourhoods. We conclude by advocating for more support within universities for this work.