CKI Introduction

The National University of Ireland, Galway launched a major project in 2001, entitled the Community Knowledge Initiative, which set out to underpin and realise a civic mission as part of its core activities.
 
The Community Knowledge Initiative’s (CKI) activities were viewed as ‘integral to the University’s strategic mission and involved a fundamental examination of the role of the University in the social fabric’ and were subsequently reflected as a core priority by NUI Galway’s Academic and Strategic Plans 2003-2008.
 
The CKI aims to promote greater civic engagement through core academic activities, namely teaching, research and service at the levels of students, staff, courses, programmes and the institution as a whole.  Up to 2005, the implementation phase, the CKI was supported by the CKI Policy and Executive Boards, which then amalgamated into one CKI Board.  The project is guided by an International Advisory Group, whose experience encompasses North America, Southern Africa, and Europe.
 
Within CKI there are four basic strands and the following represents the goals for each facet of the project:

Research
Through research, NUI Galway strives to become an internationally recognised centre for applied research on community regeneration, knowledge and interactions with learning institutions, while also promoting research into the areas of student volunteering and service learning.

Student Volunteering-ALIVE
The goal of the CKI is to enable NUI Galway to become a role model in promoting the development of civic and leadership skills in students.  To this end a student volunteering programme entitled ALIVE (A Learning Initiative and the Volunteering Experience), was established by the CKI to harness, acknowledge and support the contribution that NUI Galway students make by volunteering.   Established in September 2003, over 1200 students have been recognised to date for their volunteering commitment within a variety of pathways including community and non-governmental organisations, through participation within societies and clubs, and mentoring first year students through the Student Connect Programme to mention a few.

Service Learning
The CKI seeks to establish NUI Galway as a pioneering institution in the implementation of service learning programmes across all faculties.  Service Learning seeks to reinvigorate the civic mission of higher education and instill in students a sense of social responsibility and civic awareness. It is a pedagogical tool that encourages students to learn and explore issues vital to society inside and outside the classroom. Students learn from engaging with communities by active participation.
 

Knowledge Sharing
To promote the growing and sharing of the University’s knowledge resource for the betterment of academic staff, employees, students and the wider community.  Books recently published include 'Higher Education and Civic Engagement: International Perspectives'.  Sign up to our CKI mailing list and receive the CKI Magazine online.