Presentation
The University of Zululand and Its surrounding Communities Unizulu CUPP Imbizo Protea Hotel Empangeni 7th – 9th April 2010Dr John Boughey Chair: Community Engagement Working Group.
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SA universities’ mandate for CE
Community service an integral and core part of post-apartheid higher education in South Africa, along with teaching and research. (SA HE White Paper 1997)
re-designation of Unizulu as a “Comprehensive” institution, tasked with “serving communities in northern KwaZulu-Natal” by assisting in rural development (including teaching, nursing and agriculture) and with technical and technological competency training for local industry. (National Working Group 2001)
Unizulu identified as one of the five rural-based comprehensive universities seen as “Key institutions in shaping social, economic and scientific development within their geographical space” (NRF/DST 2009)
Who are our “surrounding” or “local” communities?
Geographically:
Mkhwanazi TA
Uthungulu District Municipality houses the Umhlatuze area and within the Umhlatuze area is the Mkhwanazi tribal authority. This area, according to the Uthungulu District Municipality (2009) comprises 52 settlements. The Mkhwanazi traditional authority area comprises some 3602 households, with a population of 24 590 (Uthungulu District Municipality, 2009).
The traditional authority is home to the community of Dlangezwa which is poor and under-resourced (Uthungulu Community Foundation [UCF], 2007). The University of Zululand is housed in this community (University of Zululand, 2009).
(Nicole Dodd 2009 RESEARCH PROPOSAL: FOOD INSECURITY SITUATION ANALYSIS IN MKHWANAZI TRADITIONAL AUTHORITY)
What is Unizulu’s commitment to Community Engagement (CE)?
All academics have a small portion of their workload formula (5%) allocated to CE. But CE can also form part of the teaching (60%) and research (30%) components.
The strategic plan encourages local community based research.
The Institutional Operating Plan commits us to introducing “Community Service Learning” into every degree programme.
A Senate Committee on Community Engagement has been established, with the same status as the Senate Committees on Teaching and Learning, and Research.