Vision and Mission
Vision
Community Engagement at Rhodes University is recognized and respected nationally and internationally as a leader in community engagement; and for its commitment to social and individual transformation, sustainable community development, student civic responsibility and scholarship of engagement.
Mission
In pursuit of its vision and that of Rhodes University, the Community Engagement directorate will endeavour to promote a reciprocal process of knowledge construction and dissemination, develop and channel the civic and social responsibility of all students, student organisations and staff of Rhodes University through various community engagement activities, thereby contributing to individual transformation and sustainable human and community development in Grahamstown and the Eastern Cape as a whole.
RHODES UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT (RUCE) UNIT
The Community Engagement Unit is a recent initiative and currently being established at Rhodes University. In the past, Rhodes University CE activities were managed by the Centre for Social Development. Following national policy on higher education community engagement, CE is located as a core function of Rhodes University and integral to teaching, learning and research.
The Community Engagement Unit aims to:
• Contribute to the vision and mission of Rhodes University through focused and collaborative CE activities
• Give strategic directions to Academics, Support Satff and Studnets where needed
• Promote leadership development of students in order to foster and enhance civic and social responsibilities
• Facilitate outreach programmes, volunteerism and service learning which are developmental in their approach
• Promote service learning in collaboration with academic departments and community partners
• Contribute to knowledge production and dissemination of knowledge through the functions of teaching and learning and research
• Contribute to the sustainable development of Grahamstown communities
• Contribute to the development of the Eastern Cape Province through partnership with provincial government departments, NGOs and other institutions of higher learning in the Province.
Principles of CE
Community Engagement must be conducted along particular principles to ensure that no harm is done to communities. These principles include:
• Development process to be followed in the initiation of CE projects/ activities clearly stating the goals of the project/activity and how it would be monitored and evaluated
• Critical awareness of power dynamics in relationship between Rhodes University and Community Partners: no exploitation or exclusion
• Participation of Community Partners from initial stages of activity
• Community ownership of the development process
• Sustainability of engagement/development outcome and not dependency
• Learning is a mutually beneficial and reciprocal process
