Community Engagement in Higher Education Institutions

The Indian branch of the UNESCO Chair in Community-Based Research and Social Responsibility in Higher Education recently completed a project titled ‘Community Engagement in Higher Education Institutions,’ funded by the British Council. The project covered Punjab, Bengal, Assam, and Karnataka, partnering with Punjab University (PU), North Bengal University (NBU), Indian Institute of Technology-Guwahati (IIT-G), and Jain University (JU) in Bangalore.

The project involved a survey of current community engagement practices in these states, resulting in a unique database that highlighted the existing scenario and future opportunities. Key findings included NBU's Biotechnology Department's collaboration with local agricultural communities, IIT-G's innovative 'service-learning' projects, and Karnataka's community radio ‘Radioactive,’ which used a tripartite engagement approach combining participatory research, citizen voice, and community campus partnerships.

Following the survey, workshops and conferences were held in each state to discuss the results and explore future possibilities for community engagement. These events included stakeholders from academia, government, and civil society, who shared best practices and action points for integrating community engagement into the Indian higher education system. Government support in Punjab and Karnataka boosted these efforts and increased their visibility.

In addition to the core project activities, the UNESCO Chair organized seminars and conferences at various universities, including Bundelkhand University, Lady Shri Ram College, and Delhi University, to raise awareness and involve different actors in the process. The Chair also contributed to the formulation of a new UGC scheme for establishing Centers for fostering social responsibility and community engagement in universities. A consultation on the scheme saw participation from multiple universities, and the Chair volunteered to mentor project proposals under this scheme.

The project concluded with a National Symposium on ‘Mainstreaming Community-University Partnerships,’ featuring notable participants such as Dr. Budd Hall, Dr. BL Mungekar, Dr. Cristina Escrigas, Dr. Carol Ma, Mr. Denis Dambois, Dr. Ronki Ram, and Dr. Pahi Saikia, among others. They shared their experiences and discussed future engagement methods. Participants like Dr. Anindya Chatterjee and Dr. Furqan Qamar provided a holistic perspective. The symposium reinforced the commitment to community engagement and led to the formation of an Alliance on Community Engagement (ACE), in line with a recommendation from the Planning Commission’s sub-committee on strengthening community engagement in HEIs.

For detailed reports, visit the ‘Project Reports’ category in the ‘Resources’ section of the UNESCO Chair website: UNESCO Chair website.