Developing a plan for Community Engagement involves listening and learning from others, testing ideas and thinking through what we have heard to find shared goals and opportunities for action.
To help shape the development of UBC’s community engagement plan, we have been collecting answers to three big questions. Check back to see the latest on what we’ve been hearing, explore the ideas and contribute your own.
Connections so far…
Motivation
Our question: Why do you value community-university engagement? Why is it important for
UBC?
So far, themes in what we’ve been hearing include:
- Community-university engagement gives purpose to learning and research, it connects the university to contexts outside academia
- Communities and universities hold different and valuable types of knowledge
- We are all part of the same community; by working together we can have a greater positive impact
Read more, or join the conversation by sharing feedback online or at an upcoming event.
Principles
Our Question: What shared principles can we agree on to guide community-university engagement?
Many university and community groups have established principles to guide their engagement activities. Learning from what exists, there is an opportunity to build a common set of overarching principles to inform community engagement at UBC.
Some of the principles we’ve heard to date include:
- Reciprocity or mutual benefit
- Diversity and inclusivity
- Respect
- Openness and transparency
- Scholarly approach
Read more, or join the conversation by sharing feedback online or at an upcoming event.
Areas of Focus
Our Question: What one thing would strengthen how UBC engages with communities?
Activities large and small will build UBC’s culture of community engagement. We have heard many ideas for what those activities might be. One priority area so far is making UBC more accessible to communities. There are many ways that can happen, including:
- Create a clear entry-point for community interested in contacting the university
- Ask communities how they want to engage with the university
- Identify and communicate UBC’s role and resources for connecting with communities
Read more, or join the conversation by sharing feedback online or at an upcoming event.
Community Engagement Gatherings
The following events have been organized as opportunities to collaborate and contribute to UBC’s Community Engagement strategy. If there are no events listed, check back soon as they are added regularly, or you can contact us directly.
- Community of Practice for Community Engagement Program Planners on October 21, 2014 10:00 am
