Economics of Community Engagement

Catalog description

This course will explore the economic benefits of strong community engagement, including the impact on local businesses, entrepreneurship, workforce development, social capital, and quality of life. In a curricular context, using case studies and best practices, students will learn from successful examples of community engagement, including urban and rural areas as well as developing and developed countries. In a co-curricular context, during the course, students will build relationships and engage with local residents and organizations as well as those from international communities. In a guest speaker series, students will have the opportunity to learn from and engage with local and international experts and practitioners in the field of community engagement and economic development. The course will include the following components: a community mapping exercise; case study analysis; and a community-based research project. The goal of the course is to engage students in facilitating in context-specific spaces that nurture diverse, flexible, and networked models of community participation, along with the recognition of political and economic influence coming from the wider domain. By the end of the course, students will be able to form mutually beneficial partnerships with local and international communities, develop collaboration networks with relevant communities, build an innovation culture, bring research outcomes to market, and advance their community and economic engagement in ethically and meaningful ways.