Community Capacity Development In Universities: Empowering Communities Through Education Management Programmes In Strathmore University (A Pilot Study)

Alfred Kirigha Kitawi

doi:10.19030/cier.v7i2.8477

Abstract

This research examined the issue of community capacity development in a university. The main way communities were empowered was through the education management programmes offered at Strathmore University in Nairobi, Kenya. The research is among the first to examine the issue of community capacity development through university programmes. The research used Chaskins (2001) framework to examine which issues of community capacity development emerged through the different action research projects students implemented within their communities. Content and map analysis was the analytical technique which was adopted. The outcome of the research was that there were some categories and relations similar to Chaskins framework and others were different given the nature of students action research projects. The study provides insights into how universities in developing countries can develop communities capacities through higher education. A framework for community capacity development in the field of higher education management is proposed. The main categories were: fundamental characteristics of community capacity, social agencies, functions of community capacity, enablers, challenges, strategies, and outcomes.

Highlights

T he concept of community capacity development is relatively new, especially in the field of higher education management
capacity development (CCD) is a complex and dynamic human process that involves changes in behaviour and attitude, while building fruitful relations between members within and outside the community, always focussing on those capacities that contribute to increasing productivity and quality of life (Dhamotharan, 2009, p. 28)
From the different frameworks available, Chaskin’s (2001) framework was used since it provided a fundamental basis for other community capacity development research studies done, for example Miyoshi and Stenning (2008b), Salanguit (2011), and Banyai (2010)

Summary

Introduction

T he concept of community capacity development is relatively new, especially in the field of higher education management. Community capacity development (CCD) is a process of developing the abilities of individuals, groups and institutions to tackle their developmental challenges and move toward their vision by managing resources efficiently and implementing actions effectively. Community capacity is invested in the elements of community (individuals, leaders, and networks) and is characterized by a sense of community, levels of commitment as well as a community’s collective ability to set and achieve objectives, recognize and access resources for productive use Community capacity represents more than a sense of collective competence; it reflects an active investment by community members in the welfare of the community and its residents. Student’s characteristics were: student’s academic qualification, position in a school (job category), and student’s origin (whether a student resides and was originally from the local community). It was important to determine whether a school was located in an urban, peri-urban, or rural area. 75% [6] were from an urban area, 12.5% [1] from peri-urban setting, and 12.5% [1] from a rural area.

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Conclusion