2025 Short Training Series for Academic and Professional Staff: Community Engagement in Higher Education

The project Supporting Professionals and Academics for Community Engagement in Higher Education (SPACE) is a three-year project (2023-2026) involving 8 partners from 4 countries (Belgium, Croatia, Ireland and Spain). The SPACE Short Trainings Series explores essential topics related to the design, implementation, and integration of community-engaged practices into academic curricula. It will offer practical insights into how academics can foster meaningful partnerships with community partners, enrich student learning, and leverage international policy frameworks and funding opportunities.

EUTOPIA is an associate partner in this Erasmus+ project, and the training sessions are open for all EUTOPIAn academics, educational support staff, university management, and community partners.

The training series is organised online (through Teams). Participation is free. Each training focuses on key aspects of community engagement, from foundational principles to sustainability strategies, providing participants with the tools they need to successfully embed these approaches into their institutional contexts.

The 60 minutes-sessions build on three core ingredients:

• Introductory keynote
• Presentation of cases
• Interactive discussion with an expert panel

TRAINING 1: Community-Engaged Education: Principles, Formats, and Curricular Embedding 
Date: Thursday, January 30, 2025 – 13.30-14.30 CET

This training introduces participants to the fundamental principles of community-engaged education and explores how this differs from more traditional academic education. Formats such as service-learning, participatory action research, and challenge-based learning will be examined. Participants will gain insight into the benefits and challenges of implementing these pedagogies, as well as strategies for embedding them into academic curricula. Practical examples will be showcased, allowing attendees to learn from lived experiences.

Purpose: 

1. Explore key principles and philosophical foundations of Community-Engaged Education
2. Showcase practical examples and troubleshoot common challenges

TRAINING 2: Community-Engaged Partnerships: Models, Ethics, and Practical Considerations
Date to be confirmed (April/May 2025)

This training focuses on the various models of community-engaged partnerships, examining their goals, structures, and outcomes. Participants will explore the strengths and limitations of different partnership models, with a focus on how to tailor approaches to meet the needs of both academic institutions and communities. Ethical considerations and potential dilemmas will be critically discussed. The session will also highlight the resources required to sustain partnerships and provide strategies for overcoming common challenges.

Purpose:

1. Examine models, ethical considerations, and practical aspects of Community Engagement Partnerships
2. Share real-world examples and collaboratively solve common issues in campus-community partnerships

TRAINING 3: Community-Engaged Leadership: Supportive Policies, Funding and Institutionalisation Schemes
Date to be confirmed (November/December 2025)

This training examines the policies, funding opportunities, and institutional structures that support sustainable embedding of community engagement in higher education. Participants will discuss how local, national, and international policies shape the landscape of community engagement, identifying gaps and challenges. The training will also explore funding schemes and strategies for ensuring the sustainability of community engagement initiatives. Attendees will learn how to foster leadership in community engagement, measure project impact, and overcome institutional barriers. Case studies will provide real-world examples.

Purpose:

1. Investigate policies, funding opportunities and institutionalisation schemes supporting Community Engaged academic practice
2. Present cases and troubleshoot common issues in securing sustainable support

>> Register now here

For any question about the training format, content or participation modalities, feel free to contact the coordinating SPACE-team members: Linde Moriau and Kyra Hidding