CUT Annual Report 2013

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
The need to obtain a specific profile and the foci area of the community engagement (CE) projects resulted in CUT revising
its CE template. As a result, the CE Model has been transformed into a comprehensive developmental model. The
model has the following focus areas: Eradicating poverty and related conditions; promoting human dignity and health;
increasing social capacity; development; education; and balancing a sustainable environment with a competitive industry.
In 2013, there were 26 projects.
Developmental workshops
The Community Engagement Unit organised a number of
workshops to strengthen the university’s understanding of
community engagement. The unit invited Dr John Boughey
to facilitate two workshops at the Bloemfontein campus as
part of staff development in teaching and learning, research,
and community engagement. The first workshop was held
in February 2013 and the second one in April 2013. The
topics were “Community-focused Teaching & Researching
in Higher Education” and “Re-Visioning the three pillars of
Teaching, Research and Community Engagement in Higher
Education: from Pillars to People”. A successful public lecture
was held on 06 March 2013 by Dr Glenda Kruss of the
Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC). A video link with
HSRC Durban, Cape Town and Pretoria enabled further participation
from other universities. The topic was “Academic
Interaction with External Social Partners: Investigating the
Contribution of Universities to Economic and Social Development”.
In October 2013, a public colloquium was held on the
National Development Plan. Fellow university community engagement
managers; members of the South African Higher
Education Community Engagement Forum (SAHECEF); fellow
colleagues; FS legislature members; and members of the
public attended this colloquium.
SAHECEF (South African Higher Education Community Engagement Forum
The university participates and collaborates in SAHECEF projects on a regular basis. CUT hosted SAHECEF for its 2013
second board meeting and a public colloquium on 17 and 18 October 2013. Throwing their weight into the boat was from
left: Prof. Laetus Lategan, Dean of Research and Development at CUT; Ms Jeeva Munsamy, Manager: Community Engagement;
guest speaker Commissioner Pascal Moloi is the Managing Director of the Resolve Group; Dr Darren Lortan, Chair
of SAHECEF; and Ms Percy Moleke, Secretariat: National Planning Commission.
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