Module 1: Introduction to Community Engagement

Abstract

Effectively engaging people is essential to navigating contemporary challenges. This course, Building Sustainable Communities: The Impact of Engagement, prepares learners, conceptually and practically, to effectively engage actors as a key aspect of building sustainable communities. ​The course is structured into five modules. Module 1 introduces the concepts of sustainable communities and community engagement, and how engaging actors can contribute to addressing sustainability challenges. Module 2 discusses methods and considerations for gathering information from and sharing with communities. Module 3 focuses on collaboration and provides an overview of different methods of working together, and the benefits and challenges associated with those processes. Module 4 defines monitoring and evaluation and explains how it can be used in different ways to contribute to building sustainable communities. Module 5 discusses ethical considerations of engagement and presents learners with pathways for future directions of learning and application.