ceu.uwc.ac.za | Community Engagement at the University of the Western Cape Welcome to the Community Engagement Unit CEU Staff CEU Staff (1) Volunteers Easter Sunday CEU Staff 1/8 UWC’s Community Engagement Unit (CEU) focuses on advancing the Scholarship of Engagement for Societal Impact (SoE-SI). Drawing on an adapted version of Boyer’s Scholarships model, we position community engagement not as a peripheral activity, but as a rigorous, ethical, and transformative approach to knowledge production that should be infused throughout all the university’s activities. Grounded in reciprocity and co-creation, CEU’s work supports partnerships that bring leaders, academics, and communities into meaningful dialogue, where diverse knowledge systems are recognised and valued. Central to this is a commitment to centering the agency and voice of communities. We contribute to a research culture that is socially responsive, critically engaged, and rooted in the realities of post-apartheid South Africa. CEU’s contribution lies in expanding how societal impact is understood, enabled, and sustained. We support pathways for translating evidence-based research into institutional, societal, and global impact through collaborative, contextually grounded practices. This includes strengthening the design and implementation of community-engaged research, building capacity among academics, students, and partners, and fostering networks that enable sustained collaboration. One of our flagship projects is our Community-Engaged Learning Programme (CELP), a student training initiative that inspires UWC students to embrace leadership rooted in social justice and transformative scholarship. Our understanding of impact foregrounds social justice, mutual benefit, and sustained transformation. One of our key priorities is amplifying the visibility of UWC’s social impact engagements and research through our annual Social Impact Engagement and Scholarship of Engagement reports. Latest news Fisantekraal Wellness Centre CE Newsletter Issue #22 Project: Winter Hope (Garies, Northern Cape) Upcoming Events Wed 30 Sept Scholarship of Engagement Virtual Colloquium (2026) / Virtual Learn more 30 Sept 2026, 09:00 – 01 Oct 2026, 16:00 Virtual Theme: Community-Led Knowledge Ecologies: Co-Creation, Knowledge Translation into Practice, and Societal Impact Map email: ceu@uwc.ac.za Quick Links Visit Us Events Calendar Follow us ceu.uwc.ac.za

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Community Engagement Works Portfolio The various Portfolios of the CEU Staff Community Liaison Substance Misuse Training Community Engagement Database CE Stakeholder Engagement Scholarship of Engagement Community Leadership Training

29 July 2026 * The Community Engagement Unit (CEU) hosted an in-person Scholarship of Engagement for Societal Impact (SoE-SI) Training with the Faculty of Education. The training focused on UWC’s Scholarship Model and advanced navigation of the SoE-SI web portal. The session was facilitated by Dr Samantha van Schalkwyk, Acting Director of the CEU, and Mr Ridwaan Mallum, Digital Transformation Specialist & Enterprise Solutions Architect. Participants were guided through the SoE-SI framework and the use of the web portal to document and showcase community engagement activities. The CEU extends its appreciation to Prof. Rajendran Govender, Dean of the Faculty of Education, Prof. Benita Nel, and staff members of the Faculty of Education for their participation and contribution to the session.

5 Aug 2026 * The Community Engagement Unit (CEU) hosted a Scholarship of Engagement for Societal Impact (SoE-SI) Training for the Faculty of Arts and Humanities. As part of the University Capacity Development Grant (UCDP)-funded project Strengthening the Scholarship of Engagement for Societal Impact (SoE-SI), the session introduced participants to UWC's Scholarship of Engagement Model and provided practical guidance on using the SoE-SI web portal to capture and showcase social impact engagement activities. The training was facilitated by Dr Samantha van Schalkwyk, Acting Director of the CEU, and Mr Ridwaan Mallum, Digital Transformation Specialist & Enterprise Solutions Architect.. Colleagues engaged with the theoretical foundations of UWC's Scholarships Model, mapping their work accordingly. They were also given the opportunity to share their community-engaged work, celebrate emerging practices, and build a stronger community of practice around social impact. The next phase of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities training will involve project-capturing workshops, during which colleagues will participate in hands-on sessions to support them in capturing their projects on the SoE-SI web portal. The CEU thanks Prof. Fiona Moolla, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Brooke Alhadeff, and the Faculty of Arts and Humanities colleagues for their support and participation. We look forward to continuing to work with your faculty to showcase your valuable social impact initiatives.

School of Public Health * 09 September 2026 * The Community Engagement Unit (CEU) held a Scholarship of Engagement for Societal Impact (SoE-SI) Training with colleagues from the Faculty of Community and Health Sciences (CHS). The session, which forms part of the University Capacity Development Grant (UCDP)-funded project, Strengthening the Scholarship of Engagement for Societal Impact (SoE-SI), was facilitated by Dr. Samantha van Schalkwyk, Acting Director of the Community Engagement Unit, and Mr. Ridwaan Mallum, Digital Transformation Specialist & Enterprise Solutions Architect. It focused on introducing colleagues to UWC’s Scholarship of Engagement Model and providing guidance on how to capture and showcase their community-engaged work through the SoE-SI web portal. Colleagues had an opportunity to discuss the Scholarship Model, connect it to the work they are already doing, and share some of the projects and initiatives they are involved in within communities. A second training session with the Faculty of Community and Health Sciences will take place on 07 October 2026 for colleagues who were unable to attend today’s session. The CEU would like to thank Prof. Shaheed Soeker and the UWC Faculty of Community and Health Sciences (FCHS) for their support and participation. We look forward to continuing this work with the faculty and creating greater visibility for the valuable engagement taking place across CHS.

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