'From Theory to Practice: Competencies for Community Engagement' course

The course ‘From Theory to Practice: Competencies for Community Engagement’ was an intensive four-day workshop held from May 6–9, 2025, led by Dr. Rajesh Tandon and Dr. Crystal Tremblay. Tailored for academics, university staff, graduate students, and community leaders, the workshop aimed to deepen participants' knowledge and practice of community engagement. Through dynamic, hands-on sessions, participants built core skills in establishing genuine partnerships, explored participatory research and engagement methods, examined key thematic areas, and strengthened their capacity for ethical decision-making in community-based work.

The workshop series included role-playing exercises, practical training in research methods, case study discussions, and thematic deep dives into areas like water governance and public health. These diverse learning activities equipped participants with practical tools to design, implement, and evaluate collaborative community engagement efforts.

With a strong focus on experiential learning, the course empowered participants to directly apply their new competencies in their ongoing or future community engagement initiatives.