Technologies to Inspire Education in Science, Engineering and Technology Through Community Engagement in South Africa

2018 ◽  
pp. 144-153
Author(s):  
Patricia Gouws ◽  
Leila Goosen
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Community Engagement ◽  
Engineering And Technology

Accelerating the implementation of SDG 4: stakeholder perceptions towards initiation of sustainable community engagement projects by higher education institutions

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lombuso Precious Shabalala ◽  
Sisa Ngcwangu
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Community Engagement ◽  
Narrative Analysis ◽  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Reciprocal Relationship ◽  
Stakeholder Perceptions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sustainable Community

Purpose This paper aims to present the results of an investigation on how a reciprocal relationship between the University of Mpumalanga (UMP) in South Africa and the surrounding communities can be used to accelerate the implementation of sustainable development goal 4 (SDG 4). The aim of this paper is to establish stakeholder perceptions on the role of higher education institutions (HEIs) in the development and implementation of sustainable community engagement (CE) projects geared towards the acceleration of SDG 4. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative methodology was adopted. This consisted of a presentation at UMP, an educational tour of the campus and discussion sessions with 3 education officials and 19 high schools representatives from Ehlanzeni District Municipality, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa. Content and narrative analysis were used to analyse the data obtained during the discussions. Findings The key findings indicate that a reciprocal relationship between HEIs and their surrounding communities can be used to accelerate the implementation of SDG 4 by positioning HEIs to take the lead with initiatives and implementation of CE projects. Research limitations/implications For HEIs to be in a better position to take a leading role in CE, they must guide without imposing, else it may lead to stakeholders losing interest. Practical implications The importance of a mutual working relationship between HEIs and communities becomes paramount, as it may lead to the realisation and acceleration of SDG 4 through CE. It is suggested that HEIs prioritise CE and also involve communities from the conceptualisation of any project. Originality/value The paper raises awareness and demonstrates the importance and possibilities of using CE towards the acceleration of the implementation of SDG 4 by HEIs.

scholarly journals Risk management and control: Human resources risks in a merged academic institution

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 155-159
Author(s):  
Tebogo Molotsi ◽  
Tankiso Moloi
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Distance Education ◽  
Risk Management ◽  
Human Resources ◽  
Corporate Memory ◽  
Engineering And Technology ◽  
Vista University ◽  
Critical Skills ◽  
And Control

This paper measured the mood of College of Science, Engineering and Technology (CSET) academics following the merger between University of South Africa (UNISA), Vista University Distance Education Campus (VUDEC) and Technikon SA (TSA). The formulated statements, potential human resources related risks with association to the statements were articulated. The results obtained from the survey indicated that had the risk assessment been undertaken in CSET, the risk of losing/ retaining critical skills, corporate memory, and the inability to attract these critical skills to CSET could have been higher on the risk dashboard following the post-merger of UNISA, VUDEC and TSA.

Community Engagement

2020 ◽  
pp. 261-287 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tshimangadzo Selina Mudau
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Community Engagement ◽  
Urban Communities ◽  
South African ◽  
Social Transformation ◽  
Historical Background ◽  
Rural And Urban

The chapter presents the use of community engagement as a tool to facilitate rural development in (South) Africa. In its discussion, the researcher used desktop literature review to analyze, compare, and gain insights guiding the use of community engagement to enhance social transformation and sustainable development. The discussion is advanced from the historical background of the emergence of African universities and community engagement. The focus was reflected against the backdrop of the Western approach used among various global universities. In this view, the underpinning objectives, relationship with the researched, and the role of the researching university are detailed. Practical evidence of positive collaborative results within the (South) African communities within the rural and urban communities by universities and other organizations have also been provided. A contrast of various types of community engagement is also provided.

scholarly journals Community engagement as the organic link with the street: Creating a learning community between the academy and homeless people in Tshwane

2015 ◽  
Vol 71 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nico Botha
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Service Learning ◽  
Community Engagement ◽  
Learning Community ◽  
Homeless People ◽  
Church History ◽  
Bottom Line ◽  
Context Analysis ◽  
Current Form

Does the current community engagement project, of the Department of Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology at the University of South Africa (UNISA), respond to the conceptual discourse on community engagement? Informed by this question this article’s objective is two-pronged. Firstly, an attempt is made to locate the project’s beginning in a proper historical perspective by engaging the initial ministry of the Department with homeless people. The narrative about the work of a Mennonite couple is told by structuring it around the dimensions of agency (identification or insertion), context analysis, strategies for mission and theological reflection or in simple terms, the reading of the Bible. Secondly, this article proceeds by subjecting both the initial ministry with homeless people and the community engagement project, in its current form, to the scrutiny of three high ranking publications from the Higher Education Quality Committee in collaboration with JET Education Services, the Council on Higher Education and a handbook on service learning in South Africa on the conceptual clarification of service learning and community engagement. As the documents reveal some difference of opinion amongst the experts, the bottom-line is that unless the interaction between the academy and the community (homeless people) is a consistent, sustainable, reciprocal and mutual process aimed at creating a genuine learning community, the project is called into question. A further issue is that the engagement between the parties must find reflection in what is taught – students or learners are to benefit from this – and researched.

scholarly journals Water Materialities and Citizen Engagement: Testing the Implications of Water Access and Quality for Community Engagement in Ghana and South Africa

2017 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leila M. Harris ◽  
Danika Kleiber ◽  
Lucy Rodina ◽  
Sule Yaylaci ◽  
Jacqueline Goldin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Community Engagement ◽  
Citizen Engagement ◽  
Water Access ◽  
Access And Quality

scholarly journals Using the Drama of DNA approach to community engagement in genomic research in South Africa: experiences and lessons learnt

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Marlyn C. Faure ◽  
Ambroise Wonkam ◽  
Jantina De Vries
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Community Engagement ◽  
South African ◽  
Genetic Research ◽  
Genomic Research ◽  
Ethical Challenges ◽  
Social Challenges ◽  
The Public ◽  
Genomics Research ◽  
Local Contexts

In the context of African genomics research, community engagement has emerged as a powerful means to enhance genomic education of the public and anticipate ethical challenges in relation to increasing genomic research on the African continent. We report our experiences of using narrative genomics, a drama-based community engagement method, to engage scientific and lay communities about ethical and social challenges related to the return of individual genetic research results in genomic research. The method uses set scripts, which audience members act out and thereafter engage in a series of ethical dilemmas presented in the script. In this paper, we describe the steps we took to change the original scripts to make them more suitable for a South African audience. We found the method to be relatively effective at engaging audiences in South Africa. While the changes in the South African versions appear minor, through our experience in trying to change the scripts to make them relatable to a South African audience, we observed that were limits to how much of the script we could change if the narrative was still to be effective as a community engagement method. While this method and the original scripts are incredibly helpful, new scripts must be developed for African audiences, and these could potentially be more impactful as a community engagement tool in different local contexts.

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