The document summarizes an IFES civic education course for universities called "Democracy: from Theory to Practice". The goal of the course is to strengthen students' knowledge, skills, values and attitudes around effective democratic citizenship. The curriculum covers topics like human rights, civic engagement, and democratic governance. It employs interactive teaching methods, student projects, and a three-pronged approach to learning focused on knowledge, skills and attitudes. The course has been implemented in several Ukrainian cities and has helped students develop understandings of democratic concepts and skills like critical thinking. Students reported feeling more empowered to create change.

1. IFES’ University-Level
Civic Education Course
“Democracy: from Theory to
Practice”

2. the goal
to strengthen the knowledge,
skills, values and attitudes that
are associated with students’
effective democratic citizenship

3. The Course Curriculum & Text Materials
the knowledge-based components
human
rights
citizen
engagement
civil society
democratic
governance
cross-cutting themes
 gender equality
 elections
 minority rights
 inclusion of and accessibility
for persons with disabilities
 enfranchisement
 good governance  rule of law
 media literacy
 digital participation
 diversity
 the role of money in
politics
 the role of youth
 corruption

4. the course curriculum and text materials
interactive civic education teaching
methodologies
student action projects
Three-pronged Learning Approach:
Knowledge
Skills
Values and
attitudes

5. “Democracy and Citizenship”
2011
“Democracy: from Theory to Practice”
fall 2018
IFES’ Civic Education Course for Universities
Kyiv
Lviv KharkivVinnytsiaTernopil

6. Impactunderstandings of: developed skills:
the role of government
in a democracy
the rights of citizens
processes to protect
human rights
the role of civil society
the ability to critically
analyze information
consider issues from
multiple perspectives
make informed
decisions
work cooperatively
with others to achieve
a goal
“…if some group of
people wants to achieve
something there is no
limit for them.”
“…I started thinking more
about helping other people.”
“…you don’t have
to be a public
official to change
something.”
“I am more than I was before.
I am proud of the experience I
got from the course.”