Social Impact

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Partnerships

​​​Why do we work with partners?

The university interconnects with external partners in terms of engaged scholarship (engaged research and engaged teaching & learning), which entails mutually beneficial partnerships between academics and the public or the university and societal partners focusing on challenges facing society in South Africa and the rest of the continent, as articulated amongst others in the National Development Plan and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Partners for social impact: A 21st century university, in the main, interconnects with three groupings, i.e. government, business and civil society. (Quadruple helix = University + Government + Civil Society + Industry)1 Cooper, 2011:355). This implies a broader interaction with society including communities. 

"How the university interconnects with external partners in terms of engaged scholarship primarily depends on the context, not on any predisposition that civil society, industry or government is especially in need of engagement.2" This context strengthens the notion of reciprocity, equality and collaboration. SI at SU focuses upon the challenges facing societies in South Africa and the rest of the continent, as articulated amongst others in the National Development Plan and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.  

How SU works with the various partners:

Civil Society

  • Agreements with civil society organizations.
  • Broker research opportunities for staff and students.
  • Ensure ethical and meaningful engagement that empowers all involved.
  • Facilitate a culture of volunteerism.
  • Respect the wisdom and knowledge that exist in the social group.
  • Co-create knowledge that represents a multitude of perspectives and is inclusive.
  • Engaged as equals with members of the social group and not the experts.

 

Government

  • Collaborate with government for policy and practice
  • MOUs between CHEC and Province: view MOU & examples 1 & 2 of research initiatives
  • MOUs between CHEC and the City of Cape Town
  • MOUs with municipalities (Stellenbosch, Drakenstein, Saldanha, and Hessequa)
      

Business

  • Collaborate with business for responsible CSI
  • Create engagement platforms for business and community
  • Funding community engagement projects


 

Opportunities for collaborative research with external partners

Existing partners of the Ukwanda Rural Clinical School

Trevor Manuel Primary School

Rise


For more information, please contact Mawethu Nyakatya (municipalities) or Renee Hector-Kannemeyer (civil society organisations)
 

1Cooper, D. (2011) The University in Development: case studies of use-oriented research. Cape Town, HSRC Press.

2 Cooper, D. (2011) The University in Development, p.355