The MacJannet Prize for Global Citizenship, launched in 2009, recognizes exemplary university student civic engagement programs around the world. Today the Prize is a key element in the MacJannet Foundation’s work to build a community of global citizens. The prize is sponsored jointly by the MacJannet Foundation and the Talloires Network, a global association of 417 universities in 79 countries on six continents, all committed to developing student leaders who are actively engaged with society.
In addition to providing international recognition to outstanding student initiatives for civic engagement and community service, the Prize grants a financial contribution and encourages communication among the groups to share their experiences and strengthen their effectiveness.
Recognize and encourage exceptional student community engagement and community service
Financially support the ongoing work of university-based civic initiatives
Elevate innovative civic engagement program models and disseminate them throughout the Network as examples of promising practices
Strengthen public support for the global civic engagement movement in higher education
Champion the values and extend the legacy of Donald and Charlotte MacJannet, who devoted their lives to fostering international understanding
Promote action around the principles of the Talloires Declaration, which recommends steps to elevate the civic engagement of universities around the world
2022 MacJannet Prize for Global Citizenship Winners
QMLAC students outside of a prison taking part in a community education project
2022 First Place Winner: Queen Mary University of London Legal Advice Centre (QMLAC), Queen Mary University of London (United Kingdom)
The Queen Mary Legal Advance Centre (QMLAC) is a free community law centre based in the University’s Law Department. It brings together undergraduate law students, QMLAC staff and volunteer qualified lawyers to provide free legal advice services and public legal education initiatives to the local community. It embodies the University’s own history, one with its roots as the People’s Palace – designed to improve the lives of poor communities in London’s East End, through cultural and educational opportunities. The university continues this educational mission today, using public engagement and service in its daily work. This work has been recognized with the award of a Platinum Engage Watermark from the National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement.
The location of the QMLAC is a vibrant and multi-cultural area, but one which has significant poverty and need (East London is regularly the lowest scoring area in the Trust for London’s, ‘Poverty Profile’). The Centre was founded by the Law School in 2006 to meet a need for the community to have access to free legal advice. It was the first law clinic of its kind at a London university.
It provides free client-centred 1-2-1 legal advice (and sometimes representation) to the public as well as community-based public legal education projects. Qualified volunteer lawyers supervise all work and legal advice delivered by law students. Student opportunities are both curricular and extra-curricular.
The clinical legal education aspect of the centre’s work is providing students with ‘real life’ experience with assisting people who are in need of access to justice, and ensuring they understand and develop a lifelong commitment to the value and importance of pro bono work, for them personally, as well as the wider community. It is a symbiotic relationship where students and clients benefit from engaging with the other.
The QMLAC team has 8 members of staff (funded by the University), in addition to the students and lawyer volunteers. The QMLAC has a volunteer External Advisory Board made up from volunteers in the legal sector, and an internal QMLAC Management Committee comprised of academics within the Department. This ensures proper and appropriate governance and accountability.
The Centre is founded on the principles of excellence, integrity, and ethics. All student opportunities have concurrent reflection classes. QMLAC teaches the ethics of lawyering and instills in students the importance of the special two-way process that they are learning and developing through the opportunity the clients give them to provide legal advice.
“It is such an honour to receive the prestigious MacJannet Prize from the Talloires Network. We want to acknowledge all the volunteer lawyers, and students who donate their time to the work of the Queen Mary Legal Advice Centre; and all the clients who work with us through some of the most vulnerable times of their lives. Queen Mary University of London has built a proud culture which champions civic engagement. Without the continued support of the University and Law School, the mission and work of the Queen Mary Legal Advice Centre would not be possible. We will continue to strive towards enabling access to justice for all educating our future lawyers in the importance of pro bono and community service.” - Frances Ridout, Director of the Queen Mary Legal Advice Centre
TIFE students
2022 Second Place Winner: Teenagers in Free Enterprise (TIFE), American University of Central Asia (Kyrgyzstan) The goal of the TIFE project is to create a platform for high-potential high school students and facilitate the development of entrepreneurial skills. TIFE strives to solve the problem of an unequal distribution of income and opportunities between different groups in society. More than half of Kyrgyzstan's population is under the age of 25, and almost a third of the population is between the ages of 15 and 25. Young people in Kyrgyzstan live in an environment where poverty and unemployment are widespread. This has a negative impact on more than 40 percent of young people: economic opportunities are very limited, access to public services is insufficient, and corruption is rampant. This makes 31 percent of young people "fear the future or be unsure of the future." The TIFE program consists of two parts: Education and Competition. During the educational part of the program, teams of high school students participate in training sessions about business modeling, design-thinking, financial modeling, and also meet with the business owners. In the competition portion of the project, teams compete to win the TIFE annual competition where one of the most valuable prizes is a 35% discount on tuition fees at the American University of Central Asia in the total amount of $34,600 for 6 TIFE winners.
“We are deeply honored to receive the MacJannet Prize for Global Citizenship! Thank you for the opportunity to become a part of Talloires Networks projects and for recognizing the exceptional student community engagement activities within the American University of Central Asia initiative. This award brings a big contribution to the TIFE Accelerator and its development!” – TIFE Program Staff
2022 Third Place Winner: UBANEX, University of Buenos Aires (Argentina) The UBANEX Program was created in 2004, in response to the need for an adequate reference framework for university extension activities carried out at the University of Buenos Aires, defining University Extension as a communicational, educational, cultural and scientific process that articulates teaching and research, and makes possible a transformative relationship between university and society. The University, through university extension and in connection with teaching and research, makes its knowledge available in order to contribute to improving the quality of life of the members of its society. Through the program, a policy scheme was developed that promotes, values, and disseminates the link between the university and the community, creating new knowledge spaces to contain the complexity of the demands of the social environment, assuming the responsibility to interpret, participate, and provide responses in a field of excellence. The program aims to stimulate social intervention with pre-designed devices, in dialogue with community social actors in the territory and area of influence of the University. These interventions are distinguished by being actions that benefit the target populations and accompany the design, articulation and reformulation of public-social policies with various state and private entities, and that, in all cases, train students guided by teaching teams. “The University Extension and Student Welfare Secretary of the University of Buenos Aires is infinitely grateful for the award given to our Program. This prioritizes and strengthens us to continue growing and encourages our students and teachers to continue along this path, trying to grow every day in order to contribute to improving the well-being of our society.” - Galli Gustavo J. "It is an honor to receive this distinction, from our team of teachers and students we are fully grateful, this gives us strength to continue serving the community more and better every day." - Carlos Capuano
2022 Honorable Mentions INTEGRA: Programa de integración universitaria para jóvenes refugiados, Universidad Camilo José Cela (Spain) The goal of Proyecto INTEGRA is to facilitate the transition and acclimation of refugees entering Spain and to provide support due to the uncertainty of young refugees and their families when facing the challenges of integration in a new society. The program offers opportunities for development by providing professional job training, access to higher education, and promoting an inclusive and supportive mentality as well as critical thinking among the rest of the academic community that makes up the university ecosystem.
The Code4All Initiative, Ashesi University (Ghana) The Code4All Initiative is a student-founded and led program that aims to empower high school students from underserved communities with software development and critical thinkings skills, thus preparing them to solve real-world problems using the power of technology. The Initiative provides mentorship and teaches basic computer skills and problem-solving through programming to students from rural and underrepresented backgrounds.
The NORTH (Navigating Ottawa Resources To Improve Health) Clinic, University of Ottawa (Canada) The NORTH Clinic is an interdisciplinary, student-run clinic at the University of Ottawa that aims to understand underserved clients’ self-identified social needs and address them by connecting them to tailored community resources and supports. Through collaborative efforts between students and medical, legal and social work professionals, the NORTH Clinic also aims to train and equip future professionals with the tools to competently and confidently intervene on the social determinants of health.
2021 MacJannet Prize for Global Citizenship Winners
2021 First Place Winner: Nine Tenths Programme (Rhodes University, South Africa) The Nine Tenths Programme is the First Place winner of the 2021 MacJannet Prize. Born out of the need to address the unequal education sector in Makhanda, Nine Tenths provides mentorship and increased access to education to improve pass rates of local no-fee schools. Nine Tenths is co-managed by the Rhodes University Community Engagement Division (RUCE), local high schools and a local Non-profit Organisation, GADRA Education. Programme responsibilities are carried out in a participatory manner by each partner based on their skill set and resources. Student volunteers apply to be part of the programme and are put through a rigorous training programme. Student leaders are elected, who each take responsibility for 14 volunteer mentors. These leaders are critical as conduits of information and quality assurance of sessions.
The program strives to revitalize education in Makhanda, enhance access to tertiary education and equip young people to transform their socio-economic status. The success of the program is evident in the increasing pass rates of university entrance-level exams, which have seen annual increases of approximately 30 Bachelor-level passes, with “program participants delivering at least 80% of all Bachelor-level passes produced by the six local schools.”
Mentor and mentee of the Nine Tenths programme; first place winner of the 2021 MacJannet Prize for Global Citizenship.
2021 Second Place Winner: The Art of Giving (Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, India)
The Art of Giving program strives to share the spirit of generosity and kindness to their community and the world in order to address a variety of societal issues. The program offers resources and student-led initiatives to improve access to inclusive education, support gender equality, uplift indigenous communities and promote sustainable development. The Art of Giving program staff write that it, “acts as a bridge between students and the indigenous community. Students need to understand and empathize with the problems which exist outside the four walls of their university.” The program also partners with local community leaders who act as “change makers” and are one of the pillars of the program.
2021 Second Place Winner: The Act of Giving program which includes students from the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology and the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences in India.
2021 Third Place Winner: Humanizing Healthcare (University of Manchester, United Kingdom)
Shortlisted for the MacJannet prize in 2018, the Humanizing Healthcare program began as “Humanizing Dentistry” and has since expanded to the fields of optometry and pharmacy. This project aims to expand the role of civic engagement in the healthcare field and curriculum and is “based on the premise that we cannot create excellent healthcare professionals of tomorrow without creating engaged ones.” Students lead programs and deliver free health services to communities including refugees, asylum seekers, LGBTQ+ community members, and native non-English speakers, aiming to break down the barriers to healthcare that these communities often face.
2021 Honorable Mentions
Penggerak Pendaulat Borneo 4.0 (The National University of Malaysia, Malaysia) The Penggerak Pendaulat Borneo 4.0 (PPB 4.0) program addresses the lack of electricity, clean water resources, and education in its local rural communities. Among the services offered in the PPB 4.0 program are a comprehensive clean water supply through the River Harvesting project and water filters installed in Kampung Lumampau. This program addresses changes in climate, geographical structures, and weather that affect the way of life of local communities who rely on the river as a main source of water. Additionally, “PPB 4.0 aims to increase awareness of the rural community towards education” regardless of the location, socio-economic level, and ability level of students.
Positive Psychology and Wellbeing Research Lab (Effat University, Saudi Arabia) Founded by Dr. Saddiga Jaber Al Ghalib at Effat University, The Positive Psychology and Wellbeing Research Lab specializes in the scientific study of applied positive psychology and wellbeing. Responding to negative attitudes toward mental and psychiatric illnesses, the program notes, “We envision a world where conversation about mental health or seeking assistance for mental illnesses is no longer taboo or controversial.” The program has published articles, hosted informational events, and provided free counseling and support sessions during the pandemic.
Penitentiary Program “Don Bosco” (Universidad Católica Silva Henríquez, Chile) The “Don Bosco” program provides access to education and professional training to incarcerated people through a variety of programs including literacy workshops and a Manual for Adult Literacy written by UCSH students, along with an effort to destigmatize Persons Deprived of Liberty (PPL). “Through visibility, awareness, reflection, and the generation of socio-educational actions, the program aims at the development of autonomy and critical capacity and decision-making for people deprived of liberty and freedom.”
2020 MacJannet Prize for Global Citizenship Winners
2020 First Place Winner: Service-Learning Programme, Ngee Ann Polytechnic (Singapore) Service-Learning Programme, Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Singapore, is our first place winner. In 2016, Ngee Ann Polytechnic launched Service-Learning (S-L) as its signature pedagogy, becoming the first tertiary institution in Singapore to strategically integrate S-L into its core curriculum. All students participate in at least one Service-Learning project tied to an academic course. Learn More.
“Since we launched Service-Learning in Ngee Ann, we have seen our students redefining themselves, becoming advocates or volunteers for various causes, finding new contexts to frame their career choices, and developing empathy, while adding value to the communities they served with. We thank the Talloires Network for recognising our commitment to engrain Service-Learning in our campus culture and are very honoured to receive the MacJannet Prize 2020. It spurs us to aim higher in Service-Learning and to share our experiences with other institutions.” – Clarence Ti, Principal, Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Singapore
2020 Second Place Winner: paNhari Program, University of Zimbabwepa (Zimbabwe) Nhari Program, University of Zimbabwe, is our second place winner. paNhari, established in 2005 as a student-led project, empowers university students to become civically engaged through social entrepreneurship and to use innovation and business principles to improve the world. Learn More.
“It is an honor to receive the MacJannet Prize, particularly during this time of the coronavirus pandemic as we have been reminded that thinking of countries, let alone communities, as separate from one another is fundamentally flawed. We are all connected and are better off with an inclusive mindset that encourages civic engagement. We are deeply grateful for this initiative and are invested in its success!” – Phil Mlanda, Co-Founder, paNhari
2020 Third Place Winner: Al-Qalam Program, National University of Sciences and Technology (Pakistan) Al-Qalam Program, National University of Sciences and Technology, Pakistan, is this year’s third place winner. Al-Qalam program is a student organization that provides educational opportunities to children who are out of school due to their family’s financial limitations. Learn More.
“We at NUST are extremely delighted with this honor. The Al-Qalam program has been running for four years and we feel this prize was due recognition to the students of NUST Community Services Club who have been working day and night to make sure that education becomes the number one priority of the underprivileged communities. This prize has not only boosted student-led efforts but is also a source of encouragement for the parents of the children whose education is supported by this program. Furthermore, this prize has further inspired everyone at NUST to keep serving the community as an engaged university with more passion and vigor” – Maheen Mumtaz, Assistant Manager, Community Services, NUST
2020 Honorable Mentions
Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Cali’s Programa Formación Javeriana para el Cambio Social y la Paz(Colombia) earned an honorable mention. Javeriana Training Program for Social Change and Peace has integrated experiential learning and community engagement into academic programs throughout the university. Learn More.
Universidad Veracruzana’s Intercultural University Student Projects (Mexico) received an honorable mention. UV Intercultural offers degree programs that generate, apply, and transmit knowledge through academic courses with an intercultural focus and ongoing community outreach projects. Learn More.
The Community Health Nature Renewal Project at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Science (Tanzania) was also awarded an honorable mention. The goal of the project is to improve the health of Tanzania’s people by planting native trees and plants back into the gardens, school grounds, roadsides, and byways of the Ilala District. Learn More.
2019 MacJannet Prize for Global Citizenship Winners
2019 First Place Winner: The University of Sanctuary Initiative, University College Cork, Ireland Borne out of the belief that universities provide a key space in which to challenge societal assumptions and to support and highlight work aimed at fostering a culture of welcome, its primary goal is to establish UCC as a place of sanctuary for asylum seekers and refugees in the Cork region. “We are honored to have won the MacJannet Prize; when refugees, asylum seekers, students and staff come together, connections are forged, solidarity emerges and we are all enriched” -Dr Máire Leane, chair of University of Sanctuary Initiative at University College Cork
2019 Second Place Winner: Caring Community Centre, International Medical University, Malaysia Founded in 2016 by a group of doctors and nurses, this partnership with the Kapar community aims to improve family health and education by addressing issues of drug addiction, malnutrition, and poor hygiene. Faculty and students from several schools are involved including dentistry, psychology, and chiropractic. Students play major leadership roles by managing projects and teams, organizing workshops, designing interventions, and participating in medical teams.
2019 Third Place Winner: The Graduate Certificate in Wiradjuri Language, Culture and Heritage, Charles Sturt University, Australia Launched in 2010, this partnership with the Senior Wiradjuri Elders is based upon Yindyamarra (respect) and values the self-determination of the Wiradjuri people on their country, where the university is largely based. The university employs Wiradjuri people to lead and teach within the program. Indigenous and non-indigenous students learn through a self-reflective exploration of Wiradjuri language, heritage and culture and each student is required to negotiate an impactful project that benefits the collective.
2018 MacJannet Prize for Global Citizenship Winners
2018 First Place Winner: Mahabba Association, Ahfad University for Women, Sudan Mahabba association was established by students at Ahfad University for Women to help to release women who are incarcerated because of small debts. The students work with the women inside the prison by providing educational and entrepreneurship training to create handicrafts to sell. The students sell the crafts on campus and in the community. “It is a human mobilization inside the jail. It gives them hope and lets the community and society know that even though they were once prisoners, they should not be stigmatized. It creates peace and empowerment” – Safia (co-founder)
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