Citizen participation is an important part of democracy. It requires citizen involvement in public decisions as well as communication at all levels of the public sector.
Get ahead in the ever-changing field of public service as you’ll explore the latest citizen participation practices. This understanding will help you analyse the new forms of deliberative, collaborative, and participatory decision-making that are evolving globally.
Discover the power of using social media and clicktivism
How people consume news has changed radically in recent years, fuelled largely by the emergence of social media platforms. You’ll explore how these platforms could be used as a force for good and the techniques you can apply to harness social media. Within this, you’ll unpack the concept of ‘clicktivism’ and how social media has made it possible for electronic, lower-cost activism.
Understand the concept of social listening
Delving into social listening, you’ll learn how to monitor the views of citizens and how to extract valuable insights from this. You’ll also explore the presence of public servants of social media, and the opportunity of a ‘digital frontline’.
Study real-world social media strategies
Some social media strategies have been highly effective at disseminating information or fostering a sense of community, but others have been less so. You’ll explore both to understand the best practices in social media strategies.
This course gives you the opportunity to hone your skills and boost your CV as you learn from the experts at the University of Birmingham.
What is a MOOC?
A MOOC is a Massive Open Online Course - these are open, online courses designed to offer a taste of Higher Education to learners from across the UK and the world. The University of Birmingham is delivering new MOOCs in partnership with FutureLearn, the UK’s first MOOCs provider established by the Open University.
Delivered by world-class academics from the University of Birmingham, the courses enable learners worldwide to sample high-quality academic content via an interactive web-based platform from a leading global University, increasing access to higher education for a whole new cohort of learners.
The courses have been developed by senior academic staff and their content is quality-assured in line with our other programmes. The courses do not offer credits towards admission to the University of Birmingham.
Course knowledge requirements
This course is designed for professionals who want to make an impact in the public sector at local, national, or international levels. It will be of particular interest for those in key industries including local council and government, emergency services, or civil service.
Course duration and week by week content
You will be able to explore the theoretical and philosophical basis for character education, including a background to virtue ethics and gain practical knowledge on taking character education into educational settings. Throughout the course, you will debate if and how character might be taught in a conscious, planned and reflective way.
Duration: 4 weeks
Week 1: Can social media be a force for good?
Social media offers greater connectivity and, in theory, greater transparency. But there are costs. In this course, we’ll look at how the rise of social media has transformed the way public servants and governments operate.
Week 2: Is anybody there?
Have you ever created or signed a petition for change? Did your petition get the outcome you wanted? This week we're exploring the power that citizens have in an increasingly digital world.
Week 3: Push, pull or collaborate?
This week we turn our attention to the ways in which social media is used by leaders and public servants.
Week 4: Trust them to tweet?
This week we'll be examining a deceptively simple question. Should public officials be allowed to use social media?
Lead academic
Max Lempriere is an INLOGOV Associate and has a PhD in political science from the University of Birmingham. He has taught for a number of years on many aspects of politics, public administration, research methoths.
How to apply
Find out more about the course and start straight away by visiting the FutureLearn website.
Related courses
If you enjoy this course, why not take your studies further in the Institute of Local Government Studies (Inlogov)