Higher education institutions are exploring ways to develop sustainable practices through engaging with local communities. This involves establishing co-engaged learning methodologies where the community helps identify problems to research. Data is collected before and during engagement to analyze the issues and benefits. The roles of community members and how results are defined need consideration. Institutions also must reflect engagement in their policies and prepare staff, while engagement can provide new opportunities for teaching and learning.

1. Developing sustainable practices with communities –
finding synergies in transforming higher education and
communities
Higher Education driven initiatives

2. Methodology of co-engaged learning
 General thinking behind the methodology of engagement with local communities?
Whose problem is being addressed?
 Strategy/strategies behind the identification of problems that guide engagement?
What and who defines problems for research?
 What Knowledge/data is being collected before and during work in or with the
community?
 How is data being analyzed and what happens afterwards?
 Roles and perceived capacity of persons engaged in the process?
 In general, what kind of results are considered satisfactory?
 Ethical considerations in engaging with communities
 Are there any perceived sensitivities involved in such engagement? How are they
dealt with?
 Benefits derived from research/engagement with communities? How are these
considered and communicated?

3. Institutional setting supporting community
engagement
 How does the institution see and value its engagement with the
community?
 How is the engagement with the community reflected in the institutional
policy and strategy?
 How are the persons engaging with the community being prepared?
 How does the academic environment benefit from community
engagement? Does such engagement facilitate new directions in
development and innovation, including in teaching and learning?
 Does effective community engagement influence quality criteria for
assessing HEIs?
 What broader lessons are gained from this engagement and how are
these lessons shared back with the community?