DOHA: Silatech and Innovations in Civic Participation (ICP) have announced the recipients of a small grants competition, part of the Wajibi: My Education, My Community university civic engagement initiative launched by Silatech in January.
Out of numerous strong proposals, two Moroccan universities and two Palestinian universities will be awarded up to $20,000 that will be used to develop and implement policies and programmes that enhance civic engagement on their universities and in their communities. The grant period is from May 1, 2014 until April 30, 2015.
Silatech is a regional social initiative that works to improve employment, entrepreneurship and civic engagement opportunities for Arab youth. Innovations in Civic Participation is a global leader in the field of youth civic engagement and is supporting Silatech in the execution of the Wajibi Programme.
Al Akhawayn University (AUI), a public institution in Ifrane, Morocco, has crafted an initiative that builds on social responsibility in its strategic plan and a mandated community service requirement for all degree-seeking undergraduates. Their programme will consist of fifteen faculty members who will pilot the inclusion of service learning in 30 courses, placing 450 students with 10 nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), with the aim of extending the approach to most courses at the university.
Ibn Zohr University (UIZ), a public institution in Agadir, Morocco, will establish a university network that will serve to centralize all civic engagement activities and practices. The goals of the network are to encourage and support all campus activities related to the field; engage with the ecosystem through partnering with civil society organizations; enhance the capacity of the local community; and encourage students and academics to engage in community-based research.
The Islamic University of Gaza (IUG) has created an initiative that will assess the awareness of the importance of civic engagement at the university level; develop a strategic plan to promote participation and community service on campus; spread the culture of civic engagement and societal service within different university departments and faculties; and develop and disseminate a directory on civic engagement best practices to students and faculty.
Palestine Polytechnic University (PPU), located in the West Bank city of Hebron, will build capacity for and standardise best practices of civic engagement by piloting initiatives in service learning, volunteer work, and community-based research. More than 125 students, faculty, and academic staff will participate in awareness and training workshops, update curricula, and create volunteer and service learning projects in the local community.
Wajibi: My Community, My Education is an initiative of Silatech that supports Arab universities to increase their efforts in civic engagement.
The Peninsula
