This report tells the story of how, through the Erasmus+ funded CIVIS2 project, CIVIS has turned civic engagement into a core part of what its universities do. At its heart are 29 Open Lab projects, spanning sustainability, health, ageing, migration, cultural heritage and social inclusion. Each project brings together students and academics with civic organisations, public authorities, museums and community groups to work on real-world problems.
The reach is significant: more than 1,000 students, hundreds of academics and researchers, and thousands of citizens and community members have engaged directly through CASCADE, the CIVIS Hubs, expert groups, Staff Weeks and the Open Lab funding scheme.
Beyond the numbers, the report shows the impact of the CIVIS2 Erasmus+ project: stronger intercultural dialogue and democratic participation, heritage preserved through storytelling and artistic co-creation, and new funding and partnerships unlocked along the way. The lesson for the next phase is clear: sustaining this requires dedicated support structures, peer learning and, critically, more equitable access to funding for non-academic and African partners.
Visit the dedicated page on Open Lab projects to discover the activities of each project.
Cite as: Sbaraglia, F., Ramjan, C., Reynaud, C., Härmälä, U., & CIVIS, Europe's Civic University Alliance (Hosting institution). (2026). Making civic engagement count: insights from CIVIS. CIVIS, Europe's Civic University Alliance. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22232723
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