2019 MacJannet Award Winners
The winners of the 2019 prize are:
1º place: University of Sanctuary, University College Cork, Irlanda.
Established in 2014, this program advocates for and addresses the needs of asylum seekers and refugees. It arose from university research that showed that current systems impose penal conditions, isolating people and causing serious deterioration in their mental and physical health. Members of the asylum-seeker community are directly involved in the governance and management of the program, which has increased access to education for asylum-seekers by awarding scholarships for degree programs at the UCC.
Today, UCC is part of the University of Sanctuary for asylum seekers and refugees in the Cork region.
For more information visit: https://www.ucc.ie/en/edi/universityofsanctuary/
2º place: 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 the health and education of the family by addressing problems of drug addiction, malnutrition and poor hygiene. Teachers and students from various schools participate, including dentistry, psychology and chiropractic. Students play an important role in managing projects and teams, organizing workshops, designing interventions, and participating in medical teams.
For more information visit: https://talloiresnetwork.tufts.edu/2019-macjannet-prize-winners/
3rd Place: Wiradjuri Language, Culture and Heritage Graduate Certificate, Charles Sturt University, Australia
Launched in 2010, this partnership with Elders Wiradjuri is based on Yindyamarra and values the self-determination of the Wiradjuri people in their country, where the university has a broad base. The university employs people from Wiradjuri to lead and teach within the programme. Indigenous and non-indigenous students learn through a self-reflective exploration of the wiradjuri language, heritage and culture and each student must negotiate a powerful project that benefits the collective.
For more information visit: https://futurestudents.csu.edu.au/courses/teaching-education/graduate-certificate-wiradjuri-language-culture-heritage
Honorable Mention: Women in Technology, Effat University, Saudi Arabia
For more than a decade, this programme has empowered disadvantaged women by improving their employability skills through quality computer literacy and social skills training. Its practical approach has reached more than 250 women, many of whom have found work and expanded their professional networks. Students participate as mentors and managers, providing tutoring sessions and technical support to participants while strengthening their own communication skills and sense of purpose.
For more information visit: https://www.effatuniversity.edu.sa/English/Academics/Continuing-Education/Engineering-Science-Tech-Center/Pages/WIT.aspx
Honorable Mention: Public Square, Simon Fraser University, Canada
Created in 2012, SFU's Public Plaza fosters knowledge sharing between the university and the community and creates inclusive spaces for dialogue on key public issues. Key staff positions over the years have been filled by SFU students and recent graduates. Each year, the program organizes a 10-day Community Summit in which thousands of people participate. Recent topics include the new world of work and the proliferation of misinformation. Activities are free to the public and the City of Vancouver is an annual sponsor.
For more information visit: http://www.sfu.ca/publicsquare.html