Vision and Mission
Vision
The Community Engagement Unit of Rhodes University is internationally recognised and respected as a leader in Community Engagement and for its commitment to social transformation, sustainable community development, student civic responsibility and a reciprocal process of knowledge dissemination.
Mission
In pursuit of its vision and that of Rhodes University, the Community Engagement Unit will endeavour to promote, develop and channel the civic and social responsibility of all students, student bodies and staff of Rhodes University through various community engagement activities, thereby contributing to 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
• coordinate all university community engagement activities and give strategic directions 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
• utilise expertise, skills and resources for capacitating and educating community and university partners on community engagement
• 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
