PURPOSE
Rhodes University has become a leading engaged university with a number of internationally renowned engaged research programs and meaningful community engaged learning partnerships. The Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Community Engagement Award is a prestigious and competitive annual award which recognises meaningful and committed partnerships between the members of the university and community partners in the areas of teaching, learning and research, where human and material resources of the University have been combined with assets found in local communities in order to contribute to sustainable human and community development.
ELIGIBILITY AND NOMINATIONS
All academic staff members who have initiated or facilitated a community engagement initiative/project/activity may be nominated for this award. Staff members may nominate an individual candidate or a group. Staff members may also apply in their own capacity to be considered for the award. Nominations and applications must be accompanied by:
- details of the history, aims, scope, methodology, process followed, outcomes of the community engagement initiative and the nature of the relationship with community partners
- a letter of commendation/reference from community partner(s)
- the names of two community referees and the names of two university referees
The Vice-Chancellor’s Community Engagement Award Committee will consider:
- the developmental and reciprocal nature of the initiative/project/activity
- the way in which the initiative/project/activity started, community partner involvement and participation
- the nature of the relationship with the community/community partner(s)
- the benefits to the university/staff, students and the community partner(s) involved
- the way the initiative/project/activity enhances teaching/learning or research processes
- he contribution to the scholarship of engagement e.g. any relevant academics papers etc
The Committee will invite referees to comment on, inter alia, whether the initiative/project/activity is exceptional and worthy; whether the initiative/project/activity is recognised as being one of the most outstanding at the university and whether it has contributed to the scholarship of engagement.
For Service Learning Community Engagement Programmes, the Committee will judge:
- that the structure is according to sound educational principles, supplements and complements the theoretical components of the curriculum (learning outcomes for students)
- the nature and quality of supervision
- the nature and quality of training for the programme/project
- nature and quality of assessment of the programme/project
- the extent to which the community partner(s) were included in the processes, reflection on the programme, contributed to student learning/development and were able to meet their organisational/group goals through the project/programme
VALUE OF THE AWARD - Awaiting confirmation.
CLOSING DATE - Closing date for nominations and applications to reach the office of the Director, Community Engagement by Tuesday 25th February 2020 (d.hornby@ru.ac.za).