Community Engagement Strand
The word ‘Matariki’ holds important meaning for the MNU. A Māori word (Otago University in New Zealand is an MNU partner), it has come to mean a celebration of the unique place in which we reside, and the giving of respect for the land on which we live. A place-based and community-centred approach for the Matariki Network in educating global citizens is needed. This strand calls for MNU initiatives that enable students, through multi/transdisciplinary work-modes, to become community-engaged, socially and environmentally aware learners, as a central part of their higher education.
Community engagement is likely to include both the academic community and its campus as well as the communities surrounding the university. Building up relationships with communities and community based organisations and institutions can help us to better address and understand local, ‘real-life’ issues. We believe that bringing people from various cultural and social backgrounds together can help to broaden their perspectives and open up new collaborations and a sense of togetherness that can provide a basis for the demands of any discussion or action on global citizenship.
LATEST Community Engagement POSTS

Lessons from Across the Ditch: From UWA to Otago
Myself and fellow UWA students, Helena and Maddi, together with the Academic Coordinator of the McCusker Centre for Citizenship, Dr Chantal Bourgault Du Coudray, recently returned from the Matariki Global Citizenship Forum in New Zealand,

Improving Durham from Halfway Across the World
As we travelled halfway across the world to Otago University, we didn’t quite know what to expect. We knew it was a great opportunity to meet and exchange ideas with other students and faculty members,

Next Steps at Dartmouth
Attending the Matariki Conference was an incredible opportunity to meet others who are thinking critically about community engagement and how to make it a sustainable pillar of their institutions. We agreed that one significant barrier

Reflections on the 2018 Global Citizenship Forum
By Griffin Leonard Kia Ora, My name is Griffin Leonard. I am one of the student delegates who represented the University of Otago at the recent 2018 Global Citizenship Forum, which focused on community engagement.

Students Develop New Website for the Matariki Global Citizenship Programme – How It Happened
By Sachiko Ishihara (Uppsala University), Rebecca Bouveng (Durham University) and Dan Brunsdon Rebecca and Sachiko The first workshop for the Matariki Global Citizenship Programme took place in Uppsala in April 2016 and was organised by

Anne’s Matariki New Year’s Resolutions for Global Citizenship
By Anne Marte Johnsen Since matariki, the New Year for the Māori people of New Zealand, was welcomed only last week, I have been reflecting on the Matariki workshop I attended earlier this spring in Uppsala.