Újra Nemzetközi Nyári Egyetem (CPU)

Citizens’ Participation University

Citizen Participation University (CPU) is a relatively new professional training activity initiated by the Central and Eastern European Citizens Network, Civil College Foundation and its partners: The European Community Development Network (EuCDN) and the European Community Organising Network (ECON). It is designed to provide more space for social professionals (adult educational professionals, community development trainers, community organizers, social service providers etc.) to extend and share their knowledge about building democracy and strengthening participation, training and working with local/thematic groups and communities, by finding relevant, timely and attractive focuses and practices every year. It also serves as a catalyzer in highlighting possibilities for networking and common action. Apart from providing space for sharing and learning, CPU acts as a catalyzer of European Networking. Besides channeling important theoretical and practical knowledge there is an important aspect on framing and planning possible common actions. The CPU’s has been arranged annually since 2010. The CPU’s has each year had a certain overall theme but follows more or less the same methodology as the precious years:

All day will have a thematic focus related to some of the key/lead issues in civil society development in Europe. In connection with the thematic focuses, keynotes lectures (which are usually forming theoretical, contextual and conceptual knowledge) will take part at the beginning of the morning and afternoon sessions (2 in the morning, 2 in the afternoon, 45 minutes each), by lead professionals in the field. After questions and answers, participants can choose from 3-4 workshops related to the main topic, following the morning and afternoon lectures as well. The workshops are more hands-on and practice oriented.

Other methodological items:

• Icebreakers and warm-up sessions are planned for each morning.
• Sessions are planned to structure ideas, opportunities, plans for future European cooperation and networking issues and activities
• Presentations are yearly published on CEECN’s webpage: http://ceecn.net/citizen-participation-university
• Short films will be made and distributed (eg. http://youtu.be/Wr8F8AUaMRY)
• Participatory, planning, discussing methods, such as “Participants Marketplace, World Café, panel discussions” etc.

Want to learn more?

PROGRAMME (public programme soon)

PRICE calculations

We help to select WORKSHOPS (for day 2 and 3)

1. Story Laboratory
2. Photo Vioce
3. Camera in the Community
4. Campaig organizing

You can also download:

• CPU general info
• CPU format info