Abstract:
Albeit with different conceptualisations, the engagement between universities and external communi-
ties continues to gain significant currency. While the emphasis has been on more socio-economic
relevance in a period of significant financial constraints and a changing clientele, a more significant area
of engagement has been on promoting the scholarship of engagement towards regional/local
development. The praxis and outcomes of community engagement continues to be surrounded by
strong debate on issue such as its impact on the core functions of the university, teaching and research.
This article sheds light on the community engagement practices from a case-study university in Africa.
Using Ernest Boyer’s proposed scholarship of engagement model as a framework, findings provide
evidence that, different contextual specificities affect the way university-community engagement
practices evolve. The methodology involved an analysis of primary and secondary data collected through
interviews with policy and academic staff. The article concludes with an argument that the success of
university-community engagement in fostering social and economic development significantly relates
to how much the practices of engagement is foregrounded in the universities’ core policy and practice.
But also on how much academic scholarship draws on engagement activities. The challenge lies in
ensuring this balance.
