Our Objectives
Objective 1
1(a) To position the Hubs of Convergence within the Engagement and Transformation Portfolio as a physical and intellectual space of exploration to support the core purpose and outcome of Vision 2030. 1(b) To critically support the interface of the four strategic focus areas to enable the University’s positioning/re-positioning around its engagement and transformation agenda in service of society.
Objective 2
To expand our understanding and clarification of knowledge co-construction through engagement and research by actively engaging with university faculties, centres, and units, as well as ‘community’ groupings about the implications of research for supporting the development of university and ‘community’ programmes and actions that respond meaningfully to the historical and contextual challenges of our time.
Objective 3
To facilitate the integration of teaching and learning and engagement into university and ‘community’ programmes and actions, producing innovative, socially useful knowledge that introduces local knowledge systems and solutions to the global conversation.
Objective 4
To develop the conceptualisation, methodology and activities that facilitate the co-construction of knowledge through engagement to support, enhance, and demonstrate the attributes of a transformative, responsive university.
Methodological Approach
Critical participatory action learning and action research approach is being followed to conceptualise the HoC. This approach lends itself to the exploration of the phenomena of engagement and its modalities while at the same time being responsive to present-day challenges.
It is through a critical evaluation of the many forms of engagement and their useful applications that we will be able to produce ‘cutting edge knowledge,’ which will inform our engagement praxis in the metro, province, country, continent and globally.
The process of the HoC conceptualisation is iterative, non-linear, messy, contested, and human and material resource-intensive. But it is through these processes, that knowledge is generated, which will help us better understand how to be responsive to the societal challenges of the 21st century. A key part of this understanding is ensuring that all voices are heard, honoured, recognised, and validated and that an opportunity is presented for their critical examination and use.