UAM welcomes CIVIS delegation to share inspiration from award-winning civic engagement programmes

For CIVIS and its member universities, civic engagement is both a fundamental value and a source of educational activities. Through the CIVIS Label and Award we celebrate and support some of the most impactful civic engagement projects across our alliance.

In the Education category, for example, the Label and Award have been handed to the International Volunteer programs coordinated by the Solidarity Action and Cooperation Office at the Universidad autónoma de Madrid (UAM).

These programmes are highly valued by UAM students and always provoke a lot of interest. International volunteering in an excellent tool to educate young people about the field of international solidarity. As active participants, they learn the true meaning of values like respect, tolerance, cooperation, and solidarity. These values can take root in their lives, and empower students to acquire the skills to contribute to building a better world.

On 22-23 September 2022 representatives from four CIVIS member universities (Aix-Marseille Université, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Sapienza Università di Roma and the University of Tübingen) travelled to UAM to learn about UAM’s various projects and initiatives in the field of civic engagement.

The meeting was a fantastic chance to share good practice and inspiration. The visiting universities of the CIVIS Alliance were able to learn in detail about the functioning of UAM’s Solidarity Action and Cooperation Office, which is led by the Vice-Rectorate for Social Commitment and Sustainability. They also explored the various programs that the Office organises and coordinates. In addition, participants discussed the possibility to create joint civic engagement programmes within the framework of the CIVIS Alliance.