Engaged Scholarship (ES)

This  section (ES)  of  your  portfolio  should  provide  a  thorough  overview  of  your  engagement  with integrating  academic  work  with  societal  needs,  demonstrating  your  commitment  to  social transformation  and  justice.  This  section  is  organized  into  key  areas,  each  focusing  on  different aspects  of  engaged  scholarship  with  several  cross  referencing  (to  highlight  the  integration  of  all scholarships)  to  your  previous  scholarships  sections  of  your  portfolio.  Consider  including  the sections presented below when developing this part of your portfolio.

Introduction to Engaged Scholarship

o  Definition  and  Philosophy  :  Briefly  define  Engaged  Scholarship  and  articulate  its  importance  in  higher  education.  Emphasize  how  it  integrates  research,  teaching,  and  service to address social justice and societal issues.  

o   Personal  Commitment  :  Describe  your  personal  commitment  to  Engaged  Scholarship  and  how it shapes your academic and professional activities.

i. Engaged Service Impact

Begin  by  explaining  how  your  approach  to  Engaged  Scholarship  is  rooted  in  a  specific  philosophical  framework,  such  as  the  Mode  2  paradigm  of  knowledge  production.  Highlight  the  importance of integrating academic work with real-world problem-solving.  Describe  how  this  philosophy  informs  your  commitment  to  service  within  the  university,  the  broader  community,  professional  organizations,  and  academic  disciplines.  Below  are  some  pointers to consider for a structured approach toward this section of your portfolio.  

o  Theoretical  Framework  :  Explain  how  your  approach  aligns  with  theories  such  as  Mode  2  knowledge  production,  which  focuses  on  transdisciplinary  collaboration  and  real-world  problem-solving.  

o  Social  Justice  and  Equity  :  Highlight  how  your  work  promotes  social  justice,  inclusivity,  and community engagement.  

Integration of Research, Teaching, and Service  

o  Research  :  Provide  examples  of  research  projects  that  involve  community  (include  all  types  of  ‘communities’  as  per  the  UWC  SoE-SI  Framework)  partnerships  and  address  societal issues. Highlight any innovative approaches or significant outcomes.  

o  Teaching  :  Describe  how  your  teaching  integrates  real-world  issues,  prepares  students  for  socially  responsible  leadership,  and  incorporates  community  (see  all  types  of  ‘communities’)-based learning.  

o  Service  :  Outline  your  service  activities  within  the  university  and  the  broader  community.  Emphasize roles that contribute to social transformation and development.  

✔  Service to the University:  

▪  Positions/Roles Held:  

✔  Contributions Service to the Community, Profession, and Academic Discipline:  

▪  Positions/Roles Held Contributions  

✔  Upload  key  examples  of  event  flyers,  press  releases  and  examples  of  materials,  guides etc.

Partnerships and Collaborations  

o  Community  Engagement  :  Detail  partnerships  with  community  organizations,  government  agencies,  and  other  stakeholders  (i.e.  all  types  of  communities  –  as  per  description  in  the  UWC  SoE-SI  framework).  Describe  how  these  collaborations  contribute  to solving societal problems and/or provide ‘  science advice (i.e. the  process  through  which  scientific  knowledge  and  expertise  are  used  to  inform  and  guide  decision-making  by  policymakers,  governments,  and  other  stakeholders.  It  involves  translating  complex scientific  research  into  actionable  recommendations  that  can  be  used  to  address  societal  challenges,  shape public policy, and improve governance).

Examples  of  Successful  Projects

Include  specific  examples  of  projects  that  have  had  a meaningful impact on society. 

Metrics and Evaluation 

o  Impact  Assessment  :  Discuss  how  you  measure  the  impact  of  your  engaged  scholarship. Include  any  metrics  or  tools  used  to  evaluate  the  success  of  your  projects  (  Access  those on  the  SoE-SI  web  portal  and  upload  some  of  the  plotting  tables  and/or  spider  graphs  as examples  ) 

o  Recognition  :  Mention  any  awards  or  recognitions  received  for  your  engaged  scholarship activities. 

Institutional and Policy Advocacy 

o  Institutional  Change  :  Describe  your  efforts  to  advocate  for  policies  and  practices  that support engaged scholarship within your institution. 

o  Broader  Implications  :  Reflect  on  how  your  work  contributes  to  the  evolution  of  higher education institutions and promotes a culture of social responsibility. 

Share a Personal Diversity Statement 

o  Commitment  to  Diversity  :  Discuss  your  experiences  working  with  diverse  populations and  how  you  promote  inclusivity  and  respect  in  your  academic  and  community engagements.  (See  the  Diversity  Guideline  on  the  SoE-SI  web  portal: https://www.soesi.uwc.ac.za/sikms/diversity ). 

o  Practical  Examples  :  Provide  examples  of  how  you  have  fostered  an  inclusive environment within your university and society at large. 

Supporting Documents 

o  Completed  Projects  :  Include  detailed  descriptions  and  outcomes  of  completed  research and community engagement projects. 

o  Ongoing Initiatives  : Highlight current projects and  their progress. 

o  Creative  Commons  Tools  :  Share  any  tools  or  resources  developed  for  community  and professional development. 

ii.  Awards and Recognition 

o  List  of  Awards  :  Provide  a  comprehensive  list  of  awards  and  recognitions  received, including those from: 

✔ professional societies, 

✔ government agencies, and 

✔ your institution. 

o  Peer Recognition  : Include examples of peer recognition  such as: 

✔ invitations to write, 

✔ reviews, and 

✔ letters of appreciation.