Action Research Programs - Talloires Network of Engaged Universities

The global movement for civically engaged universities is a contemporary response to the challenges of our times. Facing challenges that defy rigid disciplinary boundaries, borders, and cultural divides, it is more important than ever to be globally aware and active in communities. We have adopted an action research framework because we aim to support methods of inquiry and action that bring about societal change, while encouraging reflection on the process and outcomes of change to inform and improve future practice. Our programs encourage solidarity, dialogue and exchange, and critical reflection and learning among all participants.

Current Programs

Amplifying the Voices of Engaged Researchers Around the World: In partnership with the Open Society University Network (OSUN), the Talloires Network have awarded 52 grants to faculty and graduate students in 19 countries to support their engaged scholarship. This program seeks to create and support a growing community of practice for engaged researchers. Learn more.

For Youth, By Youth: Throughout 2023, alumni of the Next Generation Leaders program worked with the Secretariat and paNhari coaches to develop a bold vision for increasing the reach and impact of their youth-led movement. NGL alumni met in person in Boston to finalize their vision, entitled For Youth, By Youth – A Movement with Local Roots and Global Impact. You may learn more about the FYBY movement by reading materials on our website, including their community-campus events to educate their local communities and present to their university leaders. Learn more.

MacJannet Prize: The MacJannet Prize for Global Citizenship was established by the Network and the MacJannet Foundation in 2009 in order to recognize exceptional student community engagement initiatives at Talloires Network member universities and contribute financially to their ongoing public service efforts. Learn more.

Universities as Frontline Responders: The Talloires Network (TN) and the Open Society University Network (OSUN) have partnered to co-implement a new global initiative entitled “Voices from the Margins – Listening and Raising Up Stories of Universities as Frontline Responders.” Working hand-in-hand with leaders at American University of Beirut (Lebanon), Ashesi University (Ghana), Brac University (Bangladesh), National University of Science and Technology (Pakistan), and others, this initiative seeks to encourage universities to lead as bold and nimble civic actors who partner with communities to respond swiftly and intelligently to unexpected societal challenges. Learn more.

Past Programs

Anchor Institutions and Community Development (2012–2015): This program’s collaborative research seminars focused on anchor institutions (institutions that are fixed in place and actively investing in their communities) and community development concepts and strategies in the U.S. and other national contexts. Learn more.

Communities Of Virtual Alliance & Inter-Dependence (COV-AID) (2020 – 2021): In partnership with Open Society University Networks, COV-AID aims to collect and share stories of institutions and individuals who are taking action to mitigate the global COVID-19 crisis, document practical steps and strategies that may be of use elsewhere, and strengthen public support for engaged universities. COV-AID includes a webinar series, an interview series, a conference series, and awards for civically engaged university students. Learn more.

CommUniversity -Workshops & Grants to Support Community-University Research: In partnership with the Open Society University Network (OSUN), the Network has organized a series of 2-hour, online workshops to support engaged scholars who have an interest in community-university research. Workshops will be led by leaders in the field of university civic engagement around the world and held each month from February 2022 through July 2022. Workshops will be available to OSUN and TN members free of charge. Workshops will highlight innovative community-university research in communities around the world such as Malaysia, the United States, Lebanon, Bangladesh, Uganda, Ghana, and Austria. Learn more.

Deliberative Civic Engagement (2017 – 2020): Together with the Kettering Foundation, the Network led workshops and published research papers about deliberative civic engagement — a model in which inclusion, dialogue, and collective decision-making are key — and how universities around the world can lead such initiatives. Learn more.

Deliberative Pedagogy: In partnership with the Kettering Foundation, the Network will design, implement, and analyze a research experiment in the use of deliberation with college students around the world. Our joint research will address such questions as: In what ways might practices of deliberative civic engagement be of value during periods of uncertainty and change? How might student participation on deliberative civic engagement practices strengthen their capabilities for ethical thinking and decision-making? How might student participation in deliberative civic engagement practices influence ideas they have about themselves? Learn more.

Grants for Engaged Universities (2021): To ensure a mix of voices and perspectives from around the world at our next global conference, the Network will issue grants to member universities and network partners. Grants will cover the costs associated with organizing and hosting small groups of university students, staff, faculty, administrators and community partners on Network campuses and facilitating the group’s participation in TNLC2021 (Talloires Network Leaders Conference 2021).

Initiatives for Democratic Practices: In collaboration with the Kettering Foundation, the Network is committed to exploring deliberative democratic ideas and practices with its members. The approach is based on the premise that democracy is an ecology in which people in communities work in complementary ways with one another and with institutions to address public problems. The learning exchange includes naming and framing of issues in public terms and working with young people to expand public deliberative practice around the world.

Next Generation Leaders in University Civic Engagement: Supported by a grant from the Mastercard Foundation, Next Generation Leaders brings together 36 undergraduate and graduate students at engaged universities in all regions of the world. The cohort will meet regularly online for more than a year to forge personal relationships and exchange strategies for civic engagement. Learn more.

Regional Perspectives on University Civic Engagement (2013-2016): For several years, the Network partnered with the Kettering Foundation to explore the ways in which universities around the world can mobilize their resources to create more just and prosperous communities while educating civic leaders. This collaboration produced a book, which is a fundamental guide for activist scholars dedicated to the practice of civic engagement. Learn more.

Youth Economic Participation Initiative (2012–2017): The Youth Economic Participation Initiative supported the efforts of universities in the Global South to develop innovative university-led models accelerating the transition of upper-year university students and recent alumni to the workforce. Learn more.

University Award for Innovative Civic Engagement (2020-2021): Supported by a grant from the Open Society Foundations, this action research program provides financial support to Network member institutions in the Global South who are working to help their communities during the pandemic. The winning partnerships have demonstrated a commitment to incorporating gender equity, diversity, and inclusion into their mission and activities. Learn more.

University Education for Transformative Leadership in Africa (2015): University faculty and staff across Africa are pioneering innovative projects to cultivate student leaders and prepare them for satisfying livelihoods including entrepreneurship and employment. With the support from the Mastercard Foundation, the Network supported these efforts through this grant initiative. In turn, African university leaders were asked to share their learnings by way of monthly reflections and webinars. Learn more.

University Volunteer Program (2013–2014): This joint initiative between the Talloires Network and the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, funded by the Santander Group, aimed to promote global civic engagement and community building through the international exchange of students among Network member institutions. Learn more.