Teaching with impact: Advancing curricular community engagement for societal transformation

The 2024 University of Pretoria Senate Conference, themed 'Teaching with impact: Advancing curricular community engagement for societal transformation', convened at the Future Africa Campus on 15 and 16 February 2024. The Senate Conference was hosted by the office of the Vice Principal: Academic, Prof Loretta Feris. This annual event focused on reimagining curricular community engagement (CCE) amidst global challenges, emphasising the integration of teaching, learning, and research in advancing social justice and academic projects.

The conference featured a series of presentations, case studies, and discussions that encouraged senators to rethink and apply social justice principles across disciplines to create impactful community engagements. Key sessions highlighted the importance of transdisciplinarity, indigenous knowledge systems, and innovative teaching methods that go beyond traditional academic boundaries to address societal issues.

Day 1 included discussions on the role of universities in societal transformation, leveraging indigenous knowledge, and the practical application of CCE in fields like healthcare and the built environment. Panel discussions focused on ensuring that community engagement activities are rooted in respect for local knowledges and aimed at genuine partnership and impact.

Day 2 continued with themes on the sustainability of CCE initiatives, addressing the transient nature of student involvement, and exploring interdisciplinary approaches to teaching and research that respond to community needs. Discussions also covered the challenges of implementing CCE in higher education, such as resource limitations, logistical issues, and the need for supportive institutional frameworks.

The conference underscored the necessity of embedding CCE in the curriculum and fostering an academic culture that supports engaged scholarship, interdisciplinary collaboration, and responsiveness to community needs. This aligns with the University's strategic intent to enhance social responsiveness and empower students as agents of societal change.

Overall, the event was a platform for robust dialogue on enhancing the impact of academic work through community engagement, advocating for a curriculum that is responsive to societal challenges and embraces the complexities of local and global community needs.