Mini-publics, student participation, and universities’ deliberative capacity

An article exploring how student participation through mini-publics (deliberative assemblies) affects university governance and deliberative capacity.

The authors argue that institutions of higher education can enhance their deliberative legitimacy by incorporating structured participatory methods such as mini-publics. They discuss how student inclusion beyond tokenistic forms, robust procedural design, and institutional commitment are necessary for meaningful impact.

The study highlights barriers including existing hierarchies, limited decision-power for student participants, and resistance from administration. The practical upshot is that embedding deliberative processes requires not only design but also cultural change in universities.

Source: Taylor and Francis Online
Language: English

Authors: Jeffrey Kennedy

Year of publication: 2022