MacJannet Prize for Student-Community Initiatives
The MacJannet Prize for Global Citizenship is currently open for applications, with a deadline of 0900 on 3 March. This prize recognises student community engagement, civic engagement and community service projects across the world. As one of the engaged members of the Talloires Network of Engaged Universities, St Andrews can submit an entry each year. If you organise a suitable project or know someone who does, the MacJannet Prize is an interesting opportunity!
What is the MacJannet Prize?
The MacJannet Prize is offered by the Talloires Network of Engaged Universities, and is the leading prize recognising student-community initiatives. The MacJannet Prize offers prizes of $10,000, $7,500 and $5,000 US dollars to support the winning projects. It gives awards to volunteering projects, community outreach programmes, social enterprises and projects integrated within University modules. Other entries are given a honourable mention and featured in media and online events.
What type of project can be nominated?
The MacJannet prize is open to a wide range of student-community initiatives. Feel free to contact the Global Office on [email protected] to discuss a possible entry and your ideas for your application.
What kind of projects have won in the past?
The winners and honourable mentions of 2024 included online student civic engagement programmes in Palestine, hybrid academic programmes in Ukraine, secondary school student mentoring in Kenya, breast cancer education in Ghana, education projects for prisoners in the USA and a climate change think-tank and outreach project at St Andrews. Previous winners have come from a wide-range of fields and higher education institutions of different sizes.
To get an idea of the type of projects that have won in the past, why not watch one of the MacJannet Prize sumposia or look at the Talloires Network website?
Are there any conditions?
Eligible projects must have been running for at least two years. This can sometimes be a problem for student societies and more recent projects. Young projects have won the prize in the past – for example, a 3-year old project won a prize in 2015.
How are projects judged?
Projects are judged based on the following criteria: student leadership, university support, sustainability, community partnership and involvement; and their demonstrated positive impact on participating students and communities. Further details are in the MacJannet Prize application form.
As regards student leadership, students do not need to run the project, as they would with a student society. However, students should contribute to the project design, carry out a significant portion of the work and work independently (with the guidance of academic staff).
How does the application process work?
Completed application forms must be sent to [email protected] by 0900 on Monday 3 March. Projects are reviewed by colleagues from the Principal’s Office, and a nomination or nominations from the University of St Andrews are forwarded to the Talloires Network. A panel convened by the Talloires Network consider the nominated entries, and request further information from selected entries.
Who were the MacJannets?
Donald and Charlotte MacJannet were educators who promoted international peace, experiential learning and cross-cultural understanding throughout their lives. They ran the MacJannet American School outside Paris (1925-1939) and summer schools in the French Alps (1925-1964). They also donated a monastery in France to Tufts University. Their work lives on in the MacJannet Foundation.