Facilitating Active Citizenship in Students through the Strengthening of University-Community Partnerships

Abstract

In South Africa, the integration of community engagement into research and teaching roles is mandated through policy guidelines, which created the need for transformation of Higher Education (HE) since the late 1990s. One approach that allows such integration is service-learning and this approach is the focus of a research study conducted with field supervisors to determine the level of reciprocal engagement experienced by them. Communication plays a strong role in authentic university-community partnerships (UCPs) and Monash South Africa is cognisant of the challenges encountered with regard to diversity during placements or internships, some of which were discovered through the study. The ultimate aim of the chapter is to offer some recommendations for having a student-engaged and community-focused curriculum with reflections on its internationality and inter-disciplinary impact.

Facing the Generation Chasm: The Parenting and Teaching of Generations Y and Z

“…Matthews (2008) predicted that "political life will become less significant as Gen Z-ers exercise power via their online identities, not the ballot box". Insights from McMillan and Stanton (2014) and from Mitchell (2008) were considered by Swanzen and Graham (2016), and some of the guidelines are summarized as follows:…”

“…Adapted from Jonas-Dwyer and Pospisil, 2004, p. 202;Magano, Mohapi, and Robinson, 2017, pp. 16-17;Robey-Graham, 2008, p. 8;Swanzen and Graham, 2016. A holistic approach to academic development or overall learning by the student would include all the factors that impact teaching, with a consideration of multiple strategies that are applied simultaneously (Jonas-Dwyer & Pospisil, 2004). Buckley (as cited in Jonas- Dwyer & Pospisil, 2004, p. 202) suggests that "adopting strategies that lead academic staff to a more learnercentred approach can be successful when aligned with the needs of staff and the institution".…”