Community Engagement in Higher Education

Abstract

In this chapter we examine several community engagement strategies with higher education institutions (HEIs) worldwide. We begin by defining community engagement in higher education. Next, we look at several different levels of community engagement in higher education, recognizing it occurs at many levels, including international, regional, national, provincial/state, and local. We define community engagement in higher education to be sustainable networks, partnerships, communication media, and activities between HEIs and communities at local, national, regional, and international levels. Engagement activities between communities and higher education may be formal or informal. Example engagement initiatives include establishing relationships; collaboration initiatives; business ventures; co-sponsored meetings, conferences, sports events, research projects; and a thousand other activities. Vast online repositories through university libraries and other digital media provide a unique ability for HEIs to share information with communities in ways that were unimaginable prior to the 1990s. There is an inevitable and symbiotic relationship that exists between communities and HEIs. Communities help provide human resources that are necessary for higher education systems to foster and carry out their purposes. HEIs in turn train students who eventually fill job vacancies and establish businesses of