Jose Frantz

The Engaged
University
JM Frantz
Definition
for an
engaged
university
“An engaged university addresses the needs and
challenges of its surrounding communities and wider society
and makes a positive impact on society by collaborating
with communities, promoting civic engagement, conducting
relevant research, transferring knowledge and technology
and practising ethical and sustainable approaches.
“The engaged university concept also encompasses the

‘whole institution’ approach to societal engagement which
means the SDGs must be integrated across the curricula,
the disciplines, research and innovation that directly
contribute and relate to the SDGs,” R Pellisier
In the context of the University of the Western Cape (UWC),

community engagement facilitates community opportunities
that enhance and promote the scholarship of engagement
through equitable partnerships and citizenry to promote
sustainable communities.
DEFINING ENGAGEMENT
Engagement encompasses collaboration, partnerships,

and community involvement. It involves fostering
meaningful relationships and leveraging expertise to
address real-world challenges.
SOUTH AFRICAN CONTEXT
Pillars of Higher Education
“Higher education institutions worldwide
make substantial contributions to human
resource development and knowledge
production by the nature of their status as
teaching, learning and research institutions,
but they have made little progress in the
area of building meaningful partnerships
with their local communities other than
simple “outreach and service.”
Ref: Kellogg Commission Report entitled Returning
To Our Roots: The engaged institution (1999)
Response by SA higher education
In South Africa, community engagement is informed by
the 1997 SA Higher Education Policy White Paper
which requires higher education institutions to
demonstrate social responsibility
Education Department’s 2001 National Plan for Higher

Education maintains that universities need to be
responsive to local, regional, and national needs.
Most universities in South Africa acknowledge the role

that social responsibility and active citizenship play but
have different views about the extent and development
of such programmes.
Key recommendations:
1. An engaged university should endeavour to nurture and develop the multiple systems of community which it serves, not only the individuals
within these communities.
2. Engagement is mindful of negotiated and renegotiated power dynamics, both within and between the multiple communities and contexts.
3. For meaningful engagement to ensue scholars must be authentically engaged themselves with the concept and process of engagement.
4. Engagement requires constant, critical reflexivity within, and between, the communities involved.
The theme: The Engaged University for the Second
USAf Higher Education Conference in 2022, held in
partnership with the CHE, provided the opportunity to
explore ways in which the 26 public universities are
engaging with local, national and global society and
the economy.
It was also an opportunity to interrogate the ways in

which engagement shapes the relationship between
universities and society and, perhaps more
importantly, how it impacts their knowledge project.
GLOBAL ENGAGED
ENGAGEMENT TEACHING
Engaged universities foster Engagement enhances
international partnerships and academic rigor by connecting
promote cross-cultural theory to practice. It
understanding. They address provides students with real-
global challenges through
collaborative research and THE world experiences and
prepares them to be
educational initiatives.
.
ENGAGED civic-minded leaders in their
fields.
UNIVERSITY
ECONOMIC SOCIAL IMPACT
DEVELOPMENT
Universities play a vital role
in driving economic growth An engaged university
through research contributes to positive social
commercialization, change through research,
entrepreneurship, and education, and service. It serves
workforce development. as a catalyst for innovation and
They are engines of sustainable development in local
innovation and job creation. and global communities.
The demand for a
stronger presence in
society through
proactive engagement
and partnering with
other societal actors.
A CALL TO ACTION:
A framework for engagement
CALL TO ACTION
It is imperative for universities to embrace engagement as
a core mission. By addressing the needs of society, they
can create and contribute to a world for all.
Teaching Discovery
Valuing good theory and best practices as a
Transforming societal problems and questions
way to reach and teach students and aspiring
into usable knowledge.
scholars and practitioners.
Epistemological Question: What is True?
Axiological Question: What is valuable?
Holding an Empirical Purpose.
Holding an Educational Purpose.
Integration: Application:
Interacting across disciplinary lines to Transacting between academics and
collaboratively construct approaches to practitioners who collaboratively seek ways in
societal meta-problems and questions. which to put knowledge to work in the world.
Ontological Question: What is Good? Pragmatic Question: "What is Practical?"
Holding an Interdependent Purpose. Holding an Pragmatic Purpose.
Boyers model of scholarship

In order for us to make progress we need co-
designed and co-produced knowledge but we
need to understand our own context
Universities can be the vehicle to drive

cross-sectoral knowledge
We realise that co-production does not

necessarily equate to equity
We need to speak of equity as it recognises

that each person has a different reality and
different circumstances and we need to meet
people at their point of need
We need to have Influential Conversations

within the context of diversity and equity as we
look at the SDGs through different lenses.
Research and academic
and community
engagement activities
FOCUS
leading to understanding
of our individual
identities as institutions
Shulman, 2005
How do we share our skills,
values and identity with others as
an engaged university?
How is it entrenched into our

FOCUS curricular, our funding policies,
our ranking systems and
accreditation bodies that we are
able to change the narrative from
competition to collaboration and
one of enagement ?
What is the moral
foundation of our
institutions?
FOCUS
How are our institutions
situated relative to society
and other institutions?
Motivation for an Engaged University Model
The "Engaged University" concept has gained significant traction in recent years,
reflecting a shift in the role and responsibilities of higher education institutions.
Universities are no longer perceived as ivory towers detached from their surrounding
communities but are expected to actively engage with and contribute to the social,
UNIVERSITY
economic, and cultural development of their regions.

ENGAGED
An Engaged University Model is essential because it addresses the growing demand

for universities to be more responsive to the needs of their local and regional
communities. By fostering a deeper understanding of the Engaged University model,
students and academics will appreciate the importance of collaboration, knowledge
exchange, and community partnerships in addressing complex societal challenges.
Furthermore, discussing the Engaged University model inter-regionally is crucial as it

allows for the exchange of best practices, innovative approaches, and cross-cultural
perspectives. This exchange can facilitate the development of more effective and
contextually relevant engagement strategies, ultimately enhancing the impact of universities
on their respective regions.
A culture of Sense Making.
South
North
A culture of Sense Making.

Jose Frantz

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The Engaged

“The engaged university concept also encompasses the

In the context of the University of the Western Cape (UWC),

Engagement encompasses collaboration, partnerships,

Education Department’s 2001 National Plan for Higher

Most universities in South Africa acknowledge the role

It was also an opportunity to interrogate the ways in

Boyers model of scholarship

Universities can be the vehicle to drive

We realise that co-production does not

We need to speak of equity as it recognises

We need to have Influential Conversations

How is it entrenched into our

economic, and cultural development of their regions.

An Engaged University Model is essential because it addresses the growing demand

Furthermore, discussing the Engaged University model inter-regionally is crucial as it

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