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Community Engagement

Code: HPPR461
Apply this course towards: Public Relations

Course description

The value of relationship-building and corporate social responsibility has gained traction in recent years and most organizations recognize the importance of community engagement. When launching new initiatives that impact wider audiences, the question is no longer “should we engage?” but rather “when and how to engage?”

Communicators increasingly need to be able to identify and analyze community groups in order to plan strategic engagement activities that advance the organization’s mission and strategic priorities. This course will examine key concepts in community engagement and how effective relationship-building can lead to communication and organizational success. You will learn about internal and external groups in different contexts and examine various methods and techniques used to facilitate the engagement process. Topics include: stakeholder theory and models; stakeholder analysis and mapping; the engagement planning process including evaluation techniques; methods and tools for engagement; strategies for inclusive community engagement; issues and conflict management; communication and reporting. You will be exposed to a variety of resources from around the world to create a global context.

This course embodies the foundational skills of teamwork, critical thinking, analysis, problem solving and communication that will contribute to your personal and professional growth. You will learn the principles and values of inclusive engagement strategies that can be directly applied to the workplace. Upon completion of this course, you will have the knowledge and tools to work within the private or public sectors, for government, non-profits or corporations.

Learning objectives

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

Define community engagement
Apply the appropriate techniques and methods for successful community engagement
Create an effective engagement strategy by using the planning process
Evaluate engagement activities and relationships
Recognize and respond to stakeholder issues and conflict

Testimonials

This elective exceeded my expectations. It deepened my understanding of stakeholder theory and inclusive strategies, provided practical tools I could immediately apply to my role. The frameworks and resources shared were relevant and actionable. This course was a valuable investment in my professional development, and I would highly recommend it."

Erin Barclay, Communications Specialist – Futureworx Society

I gained a deeper understanding of stakeholder engagement—balancing diverse needs while honouring community values. The research and discussions within our team reinforced how essential it is to create engagement strategies that are trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, and accessible to diverse populations."

Heather Thompson, 2025

I have a firmer grasp of the importance of building trust, involving the right people, and communicating in a way that meets everyone’s needs. I also gained confidence in helping to lead a project, especially when things don’t go as planned. I learned how to stay organized, solve problems, and communicate clearly."

Mikayla Hubley, 2025

I learned that an organization's actions can have a wide range of impacts on different community groups and that, in turn, those groups can greatly affect the success and goals of an organization. It opened my eyes to just how diverse and powerful stakeholders can be and why it is essential to understand and engage them effectively."

Chris Cummings, 2025

Registration details

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Info you should know:

Continuing Studies statement on use of educational technology

This course will require the use of Zoom and may use other education technology such as internet-based applications, cloud services, or social media. In order to complete this course you will be required to either consent to the disclosure of your personal information outside of Canada to enable use of these technologies, or work with the Division of Continuing Studies to explore other privacy protective options (such as using an alias or nickname).

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