The Contributions of Community-University Engagement in Solving Societal Problems: The Case of St. Mary’s University, Ethiopia

Abstract

Higher education institutions (HEI) are obliged to work in collaboration with communities to solve social problems, build capacity and contribute to the economic and social development of local communities. Moreover HEIs are expected to better prepare students for work, adjust research agendas to work on solving real societal problems and provide service to the communities where they are located. The purpose of this study was to explore the role that the St Mary’s University College (SMUC) is playing in solving the problem of the society through its community-university engagement programs and activities. Data were collected from coordinator of outreach and community service program, Guidance and counseling officer, faculty deans, students’ affairs officers, Career and cooperative training unit officer, information and communication officer, Gender and HIV/AIDs Prevention and Control officer, Academic Associate vice president who are purposely selected as well as community organizations and members selected based on their availability and affiliations with the institutions under study. Rating scale, semi-structured interview and document and web site review were employed to collect the data. The data obtained from the rating scale were analyzed using percentage proportion while data from interview, and document & website review were analyzed qualitatively. Thus concurrent mixed method approach was used to analyze the data. The results depicted the existence of strong cultures of and leadership supporting community-university engagement program at SMUC. The institution strives to encourage community university engagement among it’s (student’s academic community and administrative community). Consequently SMUC is playing a vital role in addressing different problems of the society through its various community university engagement programs and activities. However, it seems that the institution employs traditional model of community university engagement where teaching and learning, research and community university engagement are conceptualized as independent component of the higher education. Thus, the actual mechanisms and programs for this purpose as well as institutional level coordination and support needed to adequately implement community university engagement efforts need to be further strengthened.