6 research outputs found
University as regional development agent : a counterfactual analysis of an African University
The contribution of universities to regional development has in the last few decades
gained significant currency. Inter alia, this contribution has been through steered
national, regional, and institutional policies aimed at enhancing national development,
good governance, human capital creation and innovation in an increasing knowledgedependent
economy, and through the universitiesâ core technologies of teaching and
research.
Based on empirical findings from an African case study, this paper argues that other
forms of contributions to regional development exist, which are neither from deliberate
efforts nor steered by direct policies. This article proposes new forms of contributions
termed âunintended contributionsâ, in which universities become growth poles by virtue
of being located in a particular region. Using the counterfactual and âexport and import
substitutionâ methods of analysis, this study shows the various ways in which a rural
university in Cameroon has âcontributed to regional development as a âgrowth poleâ.http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/raer202017-06-30hb2016Occupational Therap
The scholarship of university-community engagement : interrogating Boyer's model
Albeit with different conceptualisations, the engagement between universities and external communi-
ties continues to gain significant currency. While the emphasis has been on more socio-economic
relevance in a period of significant financial constraints and a changing clientele, a more significant area
of engagement has been on promoting the scholarship of engagement towards regional/local
development. The praxis and outcomes of community engagement continues to be surrounded by
strong debate on issue such as its impact on the core functions of the university, teaching and research.
This article sheds light on the community engagement practices from a case-study university in Africa.
Using Ernest Boyerâs proposed scholarship of engagement model as a framework, findings provide
evidence that, different contextual specificities affect the way university-community engagement
practices evolve. The methodology involved an analysis of primary and secondary data collected through
interviews with policy and academic staff. The article concludes with an argument that the success of
university-community engagement in fostering social and economic development significantly relates
to how much the practices of engagement is foregrounded in the universitiesâ core policy and practice.
But also on how much academic scholarship draws on engagement activities. The challenge lies in
ensuring this balance.Norwegian Research Development Agency, NORAD.http://www.elsevier.com/locate/ijedudev2017-07-31hb2016Education Management and Policy Studie