Active citizenship and democratic participation of students

Aktivno državljanstvo in demokratična participacija študentov

Course credits:

4.00 ECTS / 60 (0 hours of lectures, 0 hours of exercises, 60 hours of seminars, 0 hours other forms of work)

Course holder:

prof. dr. Tomaž Deželan

Type:

Elective general

Language:

Slovenian

Semester:

Full academic year

Study degree

3. level

Course execution:

• Interdisciplinary Doctoral Programme in the Humanities and Social Sciences
• Postgraduate Programme of Cultural studies
• Postgraduate Programme of Defence and Security Studies
• Postgraduate Programme of European Studies
• Postgraduate Programme of International Relations
• Postgraduate Programme of Journalism
• Postgraduate Programme of Marketing Communication and Public Relations
• Postgraduate Programme of Media and communication studies
• Postgraduate Programme of Political Science – Comparative Public Policies and Administration
• Postgraduate Programme of Political Science – Political Theory, Global and Strategic Studies
• Postgraduate Programme of Social Informatics
• Postgraduate Programme of Sociology
• Postgraduate Programme of Sociology – Management of Human Resources, Knowledge and Organizations

Short content

The extracurricular activity regards civic space as a foundation of democratic societies, safeguarding key civil liberties: freedom of assembly, association, and expression, which foster public dialogue and the exchange of ideas (Deželan et al., 2020). Its purpose is to introduce students to the concepts of active citizenship and democratic participation, and to examine the current shrinking of civic space in European and global university environments. The activity also addresses the erosion of academic freedom, including restrictions on speech, teaching, and research, bans on protests, funding cuts, surveillance, and online harassment. Through individual case studies, students will identify key factors and barriers to student participation in civic space in higher education and beyond, including ensuring representation, democratic participation, and other activities related to active citizenship. By promoting problem-based learning and practical examples, students will be equipped to recognise the concepts of active citizenship, civic space, and democratic participation within the university and in wider society. Case studies and practical examples will empower students and strengthen their capacity to realise and develop their potential by sharing resources and advocating for academic freedom and values as active citizens.