PSY612-Active Citizenship Department of Psychology, VU

Lesson 1- Introduction and Course Overview

We are excited to introduce the PSY612 - Active Citizenship course, designed to empower
you with practical skills and a deep sense of social responsibility as active citizens within your
communities. In this course, we aim to foster a passion for serving humanity, working closely with
marginalized and vulnerable groups. This initiative will not only enhance your understanding of
active citizenship but also create a lasting impact on the lives of those in need.

Objectives of the Course

 Develop Practical Skills in Active Citizenship: By the end of this course, students will be
proficient in applying practical skills such as communication, citizenship, volunteering,
fundraising, social entrepreneurship, and network building within their local communities.
 Foster Community Awareness: Enable students to gain a deeper understanding of the
communities they live in, encouraging a sense of connection, empathy, and an active role
in community development.
 Prepare Students to Work with Vulnerable Groups: Equip students with the necessary
knowledge and skills to work effectively with vulnerable and marginalized groups in
diverse community settings, with a focus on clinical and counseling approaches.
 Advance Social Work Practice: Empower students to utilize research, knowledge, and
practical skills to contribute to the advancement of social work practice, promoting positive
change in society.
 Facilitate Collaborative Group Work: Develop students' ability to work collaboratively
within groups, ensuring effective communication, coordination, and shared responsibilities
in the planning, execution, and reporting of projects related to active citizenship.
These objectives are designed to guide the learning outcomes of the course and help students
achieve a comprehensive understanding of active citizenship and its practical application in their
communities.

Learning Outcomes
Upon completing the PSY612 - Active Citizenship course, students will be able to:
 Apply Practical Skills: Demonstrate the ability to apply practical skills, including effective
communication, community engagement, fundraising, and social entrepreneurship, in a
real-world context.
 Deepen Community Engagement: Develop a deeper connection to their local communities,
recognizing the significance of active citizenship and their role in community development.
 Empathize with Vulnerable Groups: Exhibit empathy and understanding towards
vulnerable and marginalized groups, and apply appropriate strategies for working with
them in various community settings.

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PSY612-Active Citizenship Department of Psychology, VU

 Advance Social Work Practice: Utilize research, knowledge, and practical skills to
contribute to the advancement of social work practice, employing evidence-based
approaches to address community needs.
 Collaborate Effectively: Collaborate efficiently within a group, demonstrating strong
interpersonal and teamwork skills, as well as the ability to distribute responsibilities and
coordinate project activities.
 Develop Project Proposals: Create comprehensive project proposals, outlining project
objectives, methodologies, expected outcomes, budgets, and timelines while adhering to a
specified format.
 Conduct Literature Reviews: Conduct thorough literature reviews on topics related to
active citizenship, psychology, and the specific focus of their chosen project, integrating
both theoretical and empirical research.
 Demonstrate Ethical Considerations: Identify and address ethical considerations that may
arise during community projects, ensuring responsible and ethical conduct throughout the
project.
 Measure Project Outcomes: Develop methods to measure and evaluate project outcomes,
considering the benefits to the target community or organization and the participants
involved.
 Effectively Manage Resources: Create and manage project budgets, allocating resources
appropriately, and establishing a realistic timeline for project completion with well-defined
milestones.
These learning outcomes aim to equip students with a holistic understanding of active citizenship,
community engagement, and practical skills that they can apply to make a positive impact within
their communities and contribute to the field of social work.

Course Structure
The course comprises eleven distinct projects, each focusing on a specific aspect of active
citizenship. You will work in groups and actively engage with various organizations and
communities. Here is an overview of the projects:

 PSY612 Project Orphanage

 PSY612 Project Old Age Homes
 PSY612 Project Women Shelter Homes
 PSY612 Project Hospital Wards
 PSY612 Project Community Centers
 PSY612 Project Rehabilitation Centers
 PSY612 Project School
 PSY612 Project Online Community (For Overseas Students and Students serving in Armed
Forces of Pakistan)
 PSY612 Project Social Welfare NGO
 PSY612 Project Welfare Organization Online
 PSY612 Project Special Schools

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PSY612-Active Citizenship Department of Psychology, VU

Each project will have two assignments

 Assignment 1: Project Proposal

 Assignment 2: Project Report
To ensure a fair distribution of the workload, we have divided the project proposal and report
components among five students. This approach encourages seamless progress and collaboration
within each group.