CONFERENCEhttps://doi.org/10.22364/htqe.2025.31 | 438-455 | PDF
Civic Engagement: Terminological Challenges
Karīna Spridzāne¹
¹University of Latvia, Latvia
Abstract
The concept of civic engagement in higher education remains terminologically diverse and often ambiguous. Scholars employ various synonyms, such as civic participation, community engagement, service-learning, and public work, which complicates their conceptual clarity and practical application. This paper examines and clarifies the conceptual and terminological understanding of civic engagement in academic discourse, proposing a working definition applicable to the Latvian higher education context. This study’s central research question is: How is civic engagement defined and interpreted in the scientific literature?
A summative content analysis was conducted on 97 scholarly definitions published between 2000 and 2024 to address this. The analysis focused on identifying the key dimensions and recurring elements of the definitions. The findings reveal that civic engagement is a multidimensional phenomenon, involving both individual and collective action, as well as political and non-political participation, and voluntary contributions to the public good. It also encompasses values such as responsibility, solidarity, and active citizenship.
The study highlights the importance of terminological precision in differentiating civic engagement from related concepts, particularly civic participation, which often implies narrower or more institutionalised forms of involvement. Based on the analysis, the paper proposes a synthesised definition of civic engagement, emphasising its role in fostering democratic values, critical thinking, and socially responsible behaviour among students. This definitional clarity is intended to inform future research, policy development, and curriculum design in education.
Keywords: civic engagement; civic participation; democratic participation; higher education; student involvement
In: Human, Technologies and Quality of Education, 2025. Proceedings of Scientific Papers = Cilvēks, tehnoloģijas un izglītības kvalitāte, 2025. Rakstu krājums. Ed. L. Daniela. Riga: University of Latvia, 2025. 698 p.
ISBN 978-9934-36-461-7
https://doi.org/10.22364/htqe.2025