The Scholarship of Engagement for Politics: - Higher Education ...

Chapter 2
Higher Education and Civic / Community
Engagement in the UK
John Annette
There is increasing interest in civic engagement and community
involvement in the UK (e.g., Hart et al. 2007; McIlrath and Mac Labhrainn
2007; Watson 2007). Recently the major research councils and higher
education (HE) funding councils have established the Beacons for Public
Engagement Programme (for more information see www.rcuk.ac.uk/sis/
beacons.htm and www.publicengagement.ac.uk). This challenge to HE in
the UK to provide opportunities for students to develop the values of social
responsibility through volunteering, to develop accredited communitybased
learning and research in partnership with communities and to
engage in knowledge-exchange partnerships that benefit the economic and
social development of local and regional communities should be seen in
the context of the rethinking of HE which has followed from the Dearing
Commission review of UK HE. In 1997, a major royal commission under
Lord Ron Dearing was established to examine the future of British HE.
One of the main aims of HE, according to the Dearing Report on ‘UK
Higher Education in the Learning Society’ (NCIHE 1997), is to contribute
to a democratic, civilised and inclusive society. The emphasis on civic and
community engagement highlights the need for the curriculum in HE to
prepare graduates to become active citizens and not only to participate in
formal politics but also to play a leadership role in civil society. This new
commitment for HE and civic or community engagement can also be found
in Australia with AUCEA (Australian Universities Community Engagement
Alliance, see www.aucea.net.au), in Canada with the Canadian Association
for Community Service Learning (www.communityservicelearning.ca), in
the Republic of Ireland with the Community Knowledge Initiative
(www.nuigalwaycki.ie), in South Africa with the Community Higher
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