{"id":65335,"date":"2022-10-19T16:40:55","date_gmt":"2022-10-19T20:40:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/world.edu\/?p=65335"},"modified":"2022-10-19T16:40:55","modified_gmt":"2022-10-19T20:40:55","slug":"universities-can-foster-more-deliberative-democracy-starting-by-empowering-students","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/world.edu\/universities-can-foster-more-deliberative-democracy-starting-by-empowering-students\/","title":{"rendered":"Universities can foster more deliberative democracy \u2014 starting by empowering students"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

As universities roar back to life with renewed expectations, students head to institutions that will shape their lives both now and in the future.<\/p>\n

At university, students are presented with various opportunities to participate in the governance of these communities. They may be asked to answer surveys, vote or \u2014 if they are confident enough \u2014 run for elected positions in a student union or as a class representative.<\/p>\n

As researchers interested in exploring novel approaches to practising democracy in organizations, we see this type of participation as crucial.<\/p>\n

It can enable diverse groups of students to interact, tackle important issues, hold universities accountable and develop their capacities to be confident, engaged and thoughtful participants in civic life.<\/p>\n

Pressing aspirations<\/strong><\/h4>\n

These aspirations are all the more pressing in light of democracy\u2019s current challenges \u2014 like\u00a0low voter turnout<\/a>,\u00a0distrust<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0polarization<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Universities have a role in revitalizing democracy. Yet, despite the merits of contemporary approaches to student participation in university governance, these tend to face major deficiencies.<\/p>\n

We argue that universities should look to democratic innovations seen with initiatives\u00a0like Climate Assembly UK<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Looking to democratic innovations<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Climate Assembly UK was initiated by a group of select committees of the United Kingdom\u2019s House of Commons. Organizers selected the 108 members \u2014 made up of everyday citizens \u2014 through a\u00a0democratic lottery<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The use of a lottery brought together a diverse group of voices, representative of the demographic profile of the U.K., and distributed opportunities for civic engagement more equitably across the population.<\/p>\n

Over six weekends, these citizens heard from a range of experts and stakeholders and deliberated together with the support of independent facilitators. They developed and presented recommendations spanning topics including consumption, travel and greenhouse gas removals.
\n