Srijan Banik, Founder and Coordinator of Social Impact Lab (SIL) under the School of General Education (GenEd) of BRAC University, and Fahmida Rahman, Senior Lecturer and Program Coordinator of GenEd, have hosted a meeting at the Tenth Annual Get Engaged Student Action and Youth Leadership Conference to expand the SIL.
The conference, organized by the OSUN Civic Engagement Initiative at Bard College in partnership with the Community Engagement Office at Central European University (CEU), brought together 52 students and affiliated staff from 20 OSUN partner institutions at CEU’s campus in Budapest, Hungary. Running from June 27-July 4, the event gave students a global platform to discuss the implementation of their civic engagement projects and provided feedback from peers and staff advisors.
The SIL convenes the changemakers and creative minds of the university to co-create social impact projects and inspire leadership and active citizenship. As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, it is essential for students to understand the complexities and interdependencies that shape societies. By fostering a sense of global citizenship, the SIL network will work towards cultivating empathy, cultural competence, and a deep appreciation for the interconnectedness of the global community. This, in turn, is expected to inspire students to take up the mantle of responsibility and work collectively toward building a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable future.
Pro vice-chancellors and civic engagement coordinators from universities worldwide who joined the meeting endorsed SIL’s proposal and acknowledged the significance of nurturing global citizenship. This year’s conference reflected OSUN’s expanding reach, with students from a wide range of countries and backgrounds participating. OSUN institutions based in Africa, Asia, North and South America, and Europe were represented, as were other partnering global associations, such as the Talloires Network and the Global Student Forum.