Marirajan Unicaf-University DVC Research-Presentation-FINAL

INTER-REGIONAL WEBINAR SERIES
IN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE 2ND INTER-REGIONAL

DIALOGUE ON EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
TOWARDS THE ENGAGED UNIVERSITY

POLICIES, STRATEGIES AND PRACTICES
Webinar Two
Incorporating engagement into Institutional Strategy
and M & E systems?
Co-organised by
OBREAL Global & SARUA
Prof. Marirajan Thiruppathi, DVC – Research & Innovation 17 May 2024 - 16:00 CEST/16:00 SAST/9:00 Colombia
Introduction
• HEIs are increasingly urged, both
internationally and within the SADC region, to
prioritize societal engagement by embedding
it into their fundamental academic pursuits.
• Traditionally, universities have interacted
with communities primarily through
community engagement programs, offering
practical training for students, rather than
making engagement a central component of
their academic mission.
Understanding Engagement
• Brink (2018) argues that engagement is an integral
aspect of the ‘soul’ of the university and defines
engagement as “the deployment of our research
and teaching for the purpose of (a) responding to
societal challenges, and (b) learning from them”
(Brink 2018: 287).
• The ‘whole institution’ approach to societal
engagement: In recent years, this responsibility has
been integrated into the core of developmental
plans and policies on the African continent and its
regions. For example, some universities are
adapting their curricula to make provision for the
SDGs, either with a focus on specific SDGs, or the
concept of the SDGs and the set of 17 goals (Van
Eeden et al, 2022: 510).
The engaged university: Institutional Approaches
POLICIES
The Higher Education Act No. 4 of STRATEGIES Practices
2013;
ZAMBIA-STANDARDS-AND- Institution Audit
Part IVA, Section 23 of the Higher GUIDELINES-FOR-QUALITY-
Education (Amendment) Act No. University Classification audit
ASSURANCE-IN-HIGHER-
23 of 2021 EDUCATION-ZSG-QA Program accreditation audit
Part IV, Section 20 (h), Statutory
Instrument No. 25 of 2016
Towards the Engaged University

UNICAF University Zambia (UUZM): Working towards
becoming an engaged university….
• Unicaf University is a pan-African independent, recognised university combining the best
elements of international education, offering high-quality academic qualifications.
• Unicaf is committed to the development of research, innovation, and entrepreneurship
ecosystem driven by the desire to contribute to the development agenda of the nation as
outlined in the Vision 2030 Document and the relevant SDGs outcome.
• Unicaf integrated engagement into institutional mission statements, recognizing it as a core value.
• Vision and mission for Research and Innovation
• Vision: To be a renowned research, innovation and entrepreneurship hub for societal
transformation
• Mission: To have a distinct contribution to the socio-economic well-being and sustainability of
our society through targeted research, innovation and entrepreneurship initiatives and outputs
that increase global competitiveness.
• Strategic Planning: Unicaf embedded engagement strategies within the broader
institutional strategic plans.
• Unicaf Research Development Strategy 2022-2026
• UNICAF Research Development Operational Plan 2022-2023; 2023 - 2024
• Strategic area 1: Establish distinct research clusters and multidisciplinary graduate studies
programmes (to anchor PhD education) that promote staff and student research and innovation
activities
• Strategic area 2: Continuously develop and strengthen research capacity, productivity and impact
• Strategic area 3: Promote research dissemination activities through faculty and staff engagement in
journal writing and publication in reputable journals and conference proceedings
• Strategic area 4: Create an enabling research, innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem
• Organizational Structure: Unicaf established dedicated offices or centers for community
engagement, equipped with staff and resources to facilitate collaboration between the
institution and external stakeholders.
• Partnership Models: Unicaf employed various partnership models to engage with local communities effectively.
S.NO MOU WITH WHOM Category Description
1 Centre for Environment Action Research Environmental Protection Dialogue (EPD); Environmental management,
Justice (CEJ) waste management, sustainable energy and natural resource
governance.
2 Centre for Organization Collaborative events Visiting scholar and practitioner exchanges; Student interaction sessions
Leadership and Development and action research projects; Resource sharing in relation to activities in
(COLD), Zimbabwe teaching and research in the disciplines of mutual interest;
3 Levy Mwanawasa Medical Joint research and To participate with UNICAF in joint research projects funded by
University student exchange international organizations
4 Huddersfield University Joint research & Training Dementia training/research
5 Ghant University, Belgium Regional research Transboundary research
network
6 University of Johannesburg Faculty level Master class for law students & faculty lead book project
collaboration
7 Lusaka Chamber of Entrepreneurial hub Training and business solution
Commerce
• Curricular Integration: Unicaf integrated community engagement into the academic curriculum,
offering courses, majors, and programs that emphasize experiential learning, service, and social
responsibility.
• Working with SARUA on the MSC Climate Change and Sustainable Development curriculum
development program
• MSC – Sustainable development
• Faculty Support: Recognizing the importance of faculty engagement, Unicaf provided support for
community-engaged scholarship through incentives, professional development opportunities, and
recognition in promotion and tenure processes.
• Evaluation and Impact Assessment: Unicaf developed robust monitoring and evaluation (M&E)
systems to assess the impact of their engagement activities on local communities, students, faculty,
and broader societal outcomes.
• Weekly research activity report
• Quarterly faculty research report – Annual faculty research report
• Research and engagement annual report
• Communication and Outreach: Unicaf employs various communication strategies, including websites,
reports, social media, and community events, to share success stories, disseminate research findings,
and engage the public in dialogue around pressing issues.
• Unicaf research website - https://www.unicaf.org/research/research-agenda/
Gaps and Challenges
• The gaps and challenges in integrating
engagement into institutional strategy
• Limited understanding and awareness
• Resource constraints
• Policy and regulatory environment
• Infrastructure and connectivity
• Capacity building and skill development
• Evaluation and impact assessment
• Discussing common hurdles faced by HEIs
in Zambia and the broader SADC region
• Vice Chancellors forums
• AAU / SARUA / ACDE etc
Conclusion
• Overall, successful institutional approaches to engagement
require strong leadership commitment, collaborative
partnerships, institutionalized support structures, and a culture
of accountability and transparency. By aligning our activities
with community needs and priorities, HEIs can contribute
meaningfully to societal development and address complex
challenges in partnership with diverse stakeholders.
Q&A
Thank You
Prof.Marirajan Thiruppathi
m.thiruppathi@zambia.unicaf.org
Whatsapp: +260974995638
Webinar 2: Incorporating engagement into Institutional Strategy

and M & E systems?

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INTER-REGIONAL WEBINAR SERIES

IN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE 2ND INTER-REGIONAL

TOWARDS THE ENGAGED UNIVERSITY

OBREAL Global & SARUA

Towards the Engaged University

Webinar 2: Incorporating engagement into Institutional Strategy

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