Beyond Engagement: Universities within their Community

Abstract

In the contemporary economic environment, universities both as sector and individually, are increasingly called to quantify their value. This is aggravated by the emergence of Massive Online Open Courses that promise all the content without either the costs incurred or the time commitment. While restructuring is necessary in many circumstances, this paper argues that the future of universities should be focused on the importance of building community engagement principles. In the contemporary world, universities and both the teaching and research scholars that reside within them can no longer afford to be isolated. Rather, what is required is the need to build closer, wider and deeper links with the various communities we serve. As such, any restructuring of the sector should be used to reassess the role universities play within broader society as well as promoting an active and engaged citizenry. As such, this paper is made up of three sections beginning with a discussion of the concept of community engagement. Following this, I move on to outline the pedagogical approach required and conclude by outlining how such an education is relevant within the emergence of a changing citizenry.