Democracy and Citizenship for All

Who is this available to?

Study level  - All Undergraduate (including foundation year), Postgraduate and Research students.

Campus - All campuses. (Colchester, Southend and Loughton)

Study mode - Online course only

Course details

This Essex for all Moodle course explores how to make social change, speak truth to power and take action on real life, important issues. You'll engage with practice and theory based training and then develop or contribute to a real-life campaign that will make social change and also contribute to your personal development, making a difference with your time at university. You'll develop confidence, public speaking skills, leadership, professional communication, team working, among other transferable skills.

How to enrol

1. Log in to 'Moodle', the online platform this course will take place on using your Essex ID.

2. Search for the  'Democracy and Citizenship For All' course using the search bar on the dashboard.

3. Enrol on the Democracy and Citizenship For All course by pressing ‘Enrol now’ on the course.

Will there be a certificate on completion?

Once you've undertaken the training you will gain a certificate, which will be connected to your chart my path and Big Essex award. Further, if you take part beyond completing the online course in real life training you will receive further points for the Big Essex award and another certificate depending on the amount of hours you commit to your campaign work..

Who is this available to?

Study level  - All Undergraduate (including foundation year), Postgraduate and Research students.

Campus - All campuses. (Colchester, Southend and Loughton)

Study mode -In person and online

How to get involved

Once you've completed our short online Moodle course, you begin with training in community organising, delivered in collaboration with Citizens UK and Citizens Essex organizers. Afterward, you can actively participate in a campaign of your choice or initiate a new one on a cause you're passionate about. Together, we foster a collaborative, supportive, and safe environment to create the change we aspire to see.

An essential aspect of this journey involves collaborating with local civil society communities. You, as students, closely engage with voluntary and community-based organizations, learning from them and identifying your role in the community. This collaboration not only enhances the university's civic role but also strengthens relationships with important organisations.

The focal point of this effort is the community action clinic currently in development. As a people-powered clinic, we empower you as students and researchers to challenge injustices and build robust communities through real-life action on significant campaigns. We operate within an alliance of civil society organizations, coming together to listen to the community, develop power, and act for meaningful change.

To find out how to get involved, email democracyinaction@essex.ac.uk

Take a module as part of your course

All undergraduate university degrees are made up of multiple modules. Each year these modules will change and your focus of study will be in different areas. Some of these modules are compulsory to your course and others are optional, meaning you can choose the areas of study you want to concentrate on. The modules below are optional modules available to students in specific departments of the university. 

CS316: Democracy in Action

Who is this available to?

Study level  - All final year undergraduate students in the Faculty of Social Science and Arts and Humanities.

Campus - Colchester and Southend

Study mode - On Campus only

Module information

If you are an undergraduate student in the faculty of Social Sciences or Arts and Humanities and are going in to your final year of study, you can choose to take module CS316: Democracy in Action. It is a full year module allowing you to do your final year project in an innovative and interdisciplinary way. The module seeks to give you the possibility to better understand your community, the issues it confronts and how to address them. This module engages you in how to make change through community organising and supports you in developing and running your own community organising campaign and holding power holders to account.

There is an application process for this module and if accepted, you will then be able to select the module on eNROL.

For further information and how to apply, please contact democracyinaction@essex.ac.uk.

 

Short Term Placement: Research and Work-based Learning

Who is this available to?

Study level  -

Essex Business School students only

Undergraduate students in final year (Module BE944-6-FY-CO)

Postgraduate students (Module BE970-7-PS-CO)

Campus - Colchester and Southend

Study mode - On Campus only

Module information

In collaboration with external community-focused organisations this module gives you the opportunity to work with community organisations on research briefs which will support those organisations in their work. The organisations will develop an idea of what they require you to do and you will work on that research brief in your final year project instead of a dissertation. Through this process you will meet with the organisations and develop a full understanding of what is required by the organisation and undergo research methods training. This may involve undertaking a literature review for the organisation, conducting analysis of the organisations financial and funding position, developing a marketing plan for the organisation, conducting a social return on investment, interviews with staff or volunteers and analysis of ways to improve the organisation, or campaigning with an organisation for social change (these are just some examples and the project could include many other dimensions beyond this depending on what the organisations wants to look at).  
This will help you to understand how to fulfil the requirements of an organisation, develop work experience by developing a project for an organisation, and engage with the diverse economy as the research placement will be with a community-based organisation, opening up options for employment in the future. This will help you in developing confidence in working with external organisations and develop an understanding of communities and relevant social, political and economic issues that impact communities. You will develop knowledge, skills and experience which can boost employability prospects and help you become an active citizen and learner outside of the classroom.