The Role Of Student Association Activities In Student Citizenship Education

This is a qualitative case-study on the role of student association activities in studentcitizenship education. The study has taken place in Northeast Normal University, China andfocused on two students’ associations. The research questions address to find out in what kind ofthe association activities students participate, what knowledge, skills, attitudes and values theyobtain and how these competences are related to citizenship education.The findings have shown that by participating in student association activities studentacquire various practical and professional knowledge and skills. After joining the associationsthere have been great changes in their values and attitudes towards society, work and life.Student association activities enhance students political and civic knowledge, voluntary actions,social and moral responsibility, civic values, students self-actualization and personaldevelopment (skills and dispositions)–competences required by the21stcentury.This research is useful for studies on understanding of citizenship education in the AsiaPacific Region. It contributes to the pedagogy of citizenship education, not only formaleducation but also participation in informal curriculum activities. The results of the research canbe used for making specific programs for arranging activity of students’ associations; they canalso let someone to analyze the way of developing such associations.