Developing a University-Community Engagement Conceptual Framework and Typology: A Case Study of a South African Comprehensive University

Abstract

Along with teaching and learning, and research, community engagement is cast as one of the pillars of the South African higher education system. The transformative White Paper on Higher Education of 1997 called upon universities to demonstrate social responsibility and their commitment
to the common good by making expertise and infrastructure available in order to be responsive and better serve their communities. One of the key objectives was to promote and develop social responsibility and awareness among students and staff of the role of higher education in social and economic development through engagement with external communities. Differences exist between South African universities on how they conceptualise their engagement activities.