COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: A SIMPLISTIC APPROACH

Internationally there is a strong belief that Higher Education Institutions exist to serve and strengthen the society of which they form part. Through the learning, values and commitment of faculty, staff and students, institutions create social capital, preparing students to contribute positively to local, national and global communities. The conference on Civic Engagement (Taillores Declaration 2005) resulted in the adoption of The Taillores Declaration which spells out the civic roles and responsibilities of higher education (Nduna 2006; Walker and McLean 2010). A study by Rajkaran & Mammen (2012) revealed that academics in a Comprehensive University must undertake at least one community project in a 2-3 year cycle. Further, the mission of one higher education in South Africa indicates that academic Departments must be involved in Community Engagement projects and this is emphasised in the Faculty of Business, Management Sciences and Law’s (FBMSL) Strategic Plan. The Department of Business Management in the Economic and Management School (EMS) was also motivated by the Community Engagement Directorate to start a project. EMS initiated an ‘Adopt a School Project’. Almost simultaneously a request for assistance from one school ignited the process. It was this that motivated the Department of Business Management at Walter Sisulu University (South Africa) to initiate a project with Kwanobuhle Secondary School. At first lecturers were involved with motivating learners, especially Grade 12’s (final year). Then resources from other schools in the form of worksheets, test and quarterly tests, examination papers were photocopied and provided to learners and teachers. Thereafter, the third year Business Management Finance students of 2011 were brought on-board. They prepared a questionnaire and undertook a needs-analysis. From this exercise, two mini-booklets were prepared: one for commerce learners and one for the general group. Currently, lecturers from FBMSL together with a group of senior students provide tuition to the learners. This paper will report on the experiences and challenges of this community project to date.