Within the scope of the Erasmus+ KA2 Institutional Development project titled “Enhancing Capacities for Sustainable Community Engagement: Cases of Georgia and Sierra Leone”, academic and administrative staff from all partner institutions gathered at the University of Georgia to participate in a three-day training focused on community engagement.
From September 3 to 5, 2025, participants discussed the active role of universities in society by focusing on community engagement and initiatives that contribute to strengthening the bond between higher education institutions and societies.
On the first day, the focus was on introducing the concept of community engagement initiatives to the participants and highlighting the role of universities in this field. The second day was devoted entirely to integrating community engagement activities into the academic curriculum. The trainers shared their own experiences with the audience, outlining main challenges and showcasing successful projects they have implemented. Additionally, they discussed the establishment of a structural unit responsible for implementing and monitoring project-based activities going forward.
The final day featured working sessions where participants consolidated the knowledge they had gained. They also examined potential challenges and solutions for raising awareness of community engagement and implementing such initiatives within university operations.
The training was led by Prof. Dr. Bojana Ćulum Ilić from the University of Rijeka, and Prof. Dr. Alberta Gregorova, a social work specialist from Matej Bel University (Slovakia), both of whom are directly involved in implementing community engagement initiatives at their respective institutions.
