Work hands-on in local communities with the Year in Civic Leadership. You'll apply your transdisciplinary knowledge to real-world issues as you develop a variety of professional skills across civic engagement, entrepreneurship, and leadership through a project-based placement.
The Year in Civic Leadership is one option for the BASc Arts and Sciences Third Year. Throughout a placement year in community and industry and three accompanying modules, you'll design a collaborative project to explore the different policy contexts of a specific social issue. You'll become an active citizen and confident leader with a practical and theoretical understanding of the principles of civic engagement and leadership.
Your placement
Apply for placements in a range of organisations, including social enterprises and responsible business/start-ups (private sector), non-profit organisations, political movements, charities (third sector), as well as local authorities and Councils (public sector).
Your placement will be enhanced by three modules throughout the year:
- Introduction to Civic Engagement: Learn how to identify and develop an effective project, producing an appropriate, evidence-based initial assessment.
- Civic Leadership: Acquire the individual skills needed to advance and implement your project and write a progress report.
- Civic Impact: Realise your project. The project remit is open, but needs to align with the aims and objectives of your placement provider.
Your placement experience will also be supported by a range of workshops, weekly individual and group tutorial/mentoring sessions offered by your department, the Birmingham Leadership Institute (BLI) and the University’s Careers Network.
Preparations for Year in Civic Leadership
Year 2 Semester 1 – You will submit an Expression of Interest form by the end of November.
Year 2 Summer Period – Based on the list of available placements you will submit an application form. You will be asked to list your preferred choice of organisations and your application must be supported by a personal statement which explains why you have chosen them.
For further information, please talk to Julian Paenke (J.P.Paenke@bham.ac.uk).