YUFE Community Engagement Declaration

YUFE is a dedicated Alliance, contributing to the resolution of pressing societal challenges. In alignment with the YUFE quintuple helix model, collaboration with diverse actors is paramount, and community engagement stands as a transversal principle—deeply integrated into all activities of the Alliance.

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University-Community Collaboration

The report University-Community Collaboration: Strengthening Local Engagement and Global Connections provides a comprehensive overview of the strategies and initiatives undertaken by YUFE to enhance collaboration between universities and local communities.

YUFE Community turns into a University Classroom

The YUFE Alliance, together with its community partners, aims to shape socially responsible individuals who will contribute to our society in their various roles as professionals, academics, and citizens. YUFE students are encouraged to engage in community-based activities to develop their citizenship and personal skills and contribute to a more sustainable society.

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Meet our partner universities

Civic Engagement Activities Intro Training

This online training session, held several times per semester, introduces students to the EU policy framework for university and community engagement and explains why universities, and YUFE in particular, are interested in integrating civic engagement into their academic pillars. It also helps students reflect on the useful transversal competencies they can acquire by participating in YUFE’s civic engagement activities.

YUFE Competence Profile

Service-learning Help Desks

In the YUFE service-learning Help Desks, students answer questions from citizens in their field of study, providing first-level assistance on a wide range of topics within the YUFE focus areas: European Identity and Responsibilities in a Global World, Citizen Wellbeing, Digital Societies, and Sustainability. These programmes are supervised by university staff, who are responsible for ensuring the quality of the assistance or service provided.

Community Volunteering Programmes

Students can volunteer in their neighbouring community. These activities are co-created with community partners: municipalities, companies, and NGOs. Students can volunteer in activities not related to their field of study and provide their insight, knowledge, and skills to help citizens in a spirit of ‘giving and gaining’. The Community Volunteering programmes enrich the social experiences of students, staff, and citizens, allowing them to act directly on the ground and providing a unique resource for the cities.

YUFE Civic Star

YUFE Civic Star is a European certificate that recognises students’ commitment to social responsibility and active engagement in the European community.

Boosting Staff Engagement

YUFE offers hands-on training for university leaders, academic teachers, and administrative staff to explore practical ways of strengthening the social impact of universities. Whether you’re just starting or aiming to expand your efforts, University-Community Engagement for Staff: What’s in it for me? Provides tools and inspiration to integrate engagement into your academic, professional, and personal life.

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Beyond Traditional Campuses

YUFE Friend Programme fosters integration and cultural exchange by connecting international students, university staff, and local communities through flexible, locally adapted models. YUFE International Café offers an open space for students, staff, and citizens to share cultural perspectives through lectures, workshops, and interactive discussions.

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