Towards a European framework for community engagement in higher education – a case study analysis of European universities

Abstract

Purpose This paper aims to examine the development and piloting of a novel European framework for community engagement (CE) in higher education, which has been purposefully designed to progress the CE agenda in a European context. Design/methodology/approach The proposed framework was co-created through the European Union (EU)-funded project towards a European framework for community engagement in higher education (TEFCE). The TEFCE Toolbox is an institutional self-reflection framework that centres on seven thematic dimensions of CE. This paper follows the development of the TEFCE Toolbox through empirical case study analysis of four European universities and their local communities. Findings The findings in this paper indicate that the TEFCE Toolbox facilitates context-specific applications in different types of universities and socioeconomic environments. Incorporating insights from engagement practitioners, students and community representatives the TEFCE Toolbox was successfully applied in universities with diverse profiles and missions. The process facilitated the recognition of CE achievements and the identification of potential areas for improvement. Originality/value Despite a range of international initiatives, there remains an absence of initiatives within the European higher education area that focus on developing tools to comprehensively support CE. The TEFCE Toolbox and case-study analysis presented in this paper address this gap in knowledge. The broader societal contribution and social responsibility of higher education have become increasingly prominent on the European agenda. The TEFCE Toolbox represents an innovative, robust and holistic European framework with the potential to support universities in reflecting upon their pursuit of addressing grand societal challenges, whilst promoting CE.

Academic Third Mission through Community Engagement: An Empirical Study in European Universities

“…According to the respondents, most universities make efforts so that their documented commitment to public engagement is known and understood; there are no significant differences between the partner countries. The conclusion aligns with several other findings at a European level and can be explained mainly due to cultural and societal similarities but also due to strategic collaboration paths between institutions [6,7,9,22,24]. Based on the results, it can be inferred that the universities may need to improve their efforts to ensure that their documented commitment to public engagement is also publicly known and understood.…”

“…The justification for this statement is based, in the opinion of the respondents, on the fact that the universities consider the opinion of the public based on the feedback received from them, especially formulated during internships, and volunteering. It could be beneficial to follow up with strategies that have proven successful over one common framework [18,22,24].…”

“…It also helps build trust between the universities and the community by demonstrating their commitment to addressing local issues and by involving community members in the planning and implementation of Third Mission activities. By engaging with the community, universities can better understand the social, economic and environmental issues that affect the community and design their programs and services to have the greatest positive impact [24]. Community engagement can provide opportunities for students and faculty to gain real-world experience, which can enhance the educational experience and prepare graduates for careers that impact the community positively.…”

“…These processes allow community members to express their views, consider different perspectives, and make informed decisions. Deliberative processes can include public meetings, community forums, and other forms of consultation and dialogue [22,24,38].…”

University social responsibility: the present and future trends based on bibliometric analysis

“…Cluster 5 (purple): With six keywords, this cluster is labeled “ USR and community engagemen t”. USR enhance HEIs abilities to disseminate and implement specific principles through knowledge transfer and education based on good governance, ethical principles, social engagement and value-based learning (O'Brien et al ., 2021). Community engagement is regarded as one of the cores of USR processes as a multi-faceted and multidimensional concept to apply to many activities in HEIs.…”