The QSU Civic Activism Programme is short programme designed to give students the to develop the skills they need to make civic and social change in the world, on issues that matter most to them.

If you want to make a positive change in your community, and have your voice heard, this course will provide you with tools and strategies to contribute to a campaign.

Whether you are a seasoned activist or just starting out on your journey with your chosen issue, the skills that you will develop throughout this course will enable you to make an impact and achieve your goals.

The programme consists of:

1. Participation in three 2- hour workshop sessions
2. Completion of our short programme workbook

The expected total commitment is approximately eight hours.

You will learn about:

1. The core components of running an effective civic activism campaign, including applying a Theory of Change and situational PEST analysis to civic and social change.
2. Team development, social media campaigning and achieving systemic change.

The programme sessions will take place in Queen’s Students’ Union on the following dates:

• Session One: Thu 14 Nov (3-5 pm)
• Session Two: Tue 19 Nov (2-4 pm)
• Session Three: Tue 26 Nov (2-4 pm)

Applications are open to any currently registered Queen’s student.

You don’t have to have loads of experience to apply. We’re looking for students who are passionate about making change!

Those who successfully complete the programme can continue their civic activism journey and receive a Future Ready Award (Single Route) by participating in our Social Action and Campaign Leadership Programme.

This will build on the learnings of the Civic Activism Programme and you will gain practical experience of civic activism by:

• Connecting with a campaigning organisation / campaign group of your choosing. (This can be an external organisation, or an internal QUB student-led campaign.)
• Developing a campaign plan (using a provided template) to achieve a campaign goal for that campaign group.
• Take some action to support the delivery of the campaign with that group.
• Complete a review / reflection document detailing how your applied your learning to a practical campaign scenario and how you developed your skills (aligned to QUB Future Ready Skills).

This can be undertaken on a flexible basis to suit your timetable, anytime between December 2024 and February 2025. The deadline for completing participation is Monday 24 February 2025.

You will be invited to participate on completion of the QSU Civic Activism Programme.

The SU Voice team will be available to provide feedback / suggestions on campaign plans during the development period.