The role of engaged scholarship and co-production to address urban challenges: a case study of the Cape Town Knowledge Transfer Programme

Abstract

The increasing recognition globally of the difficulties faced by local governments in their attempts to address the complex nature of urban policy has led to engaged scholarship and knowledge co-production increasingly being invoked. To better understand how knowledge partnerships are formed, sustained and the (perceived) benefits of such knowledge configurations, this paper draws on the knowledge transfer programme (KTP). The KTP (2012–2015) was a partnership between academic researchers at the University of Cape Town and city practitioners at the City of Cape Town, based on the assumption that a single knowledge base is not sufficient to respond to the changing nature of urban and environmental change. The benefit of partnerships and the collaborative approach used in the KTP are detailed. Using qualitative research methods, it is argued that more engaged interactions, including knowledge co-production approaches between the researchers and the practitioners generates multiple benefits. Whilst the engagement for both institutions lies in the knowledge produced during the interaction, the process of embedding in alternate institutional spaces for sustained periods resulted in building trust, deepening partnerships and surfacing of tacit knowledge. Furthermore, individual benefits accrued by participants including support available to researchers and officials through fostered relationships, access to data and knowledge, improved understanding of urban issues, broadened networks via new partnerships, conceptual reflection and wider knowledge bases through collaboration and embedded research were found to be significant.