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My CEU Details Acting Director Dr Samantha van Schalkwyk Dr. Samantha van Schalkwyk is a feminist scholar and activist working in the field of gender-based violence and transforming patriarchal trauma. She is Acting Director at the Community Engagement Unit (CEU) at the University of the Western Cape, where she is leading processes related to the institutionalisation of the scholarship of engagement for societal impact (SoE-SI) and driving community-engaged research. In this role, she leads the alignment of community engagement with institutional priorities, cultivates equitable community–university partnerships, and strengthens pathways for translating engaged scholarship into meaningful social change. She integrates critical feminist research with impactful community-based interventions and training. Holding a PhD in Psychology, Dr. van Schalkwyk’s academic and activist work spans over thirteen years and focuses on gender-based violence at the intersections of historical trauma and the disruption of racialised and patriarchal systems through participatory and collective research methodologies. savanschalkwyk@uwc.ac.za +27 (21) 959 3124 View CEU staff Portfolios View our CE work Portfolios

My CEU Details CEU Database Pearl September-Brown Pearl September-Brown is a Researcher in the Community Engagement Unit (CEU) at the University of the Western Cape, where she contributes to advancing the Scholarship of Engagement through community-responsive research, knowledge production, and institutional capacity building. Trained in psychological research methods, she holds a Master’s degree in Psychology Research and is a registered Psychometrist. Her role at the CEU focuses on the design, coordination, and dissemination of community-engaged research outputs, including institutional databases, research reports, scholarly publications, newsletters, and case study manuals. She collaborates closely with academics, students, and community partners to support ethical co-creation of knowledge, data collection and analysis, and the translation of research into practice. Pearl also contributes to teaching and facilitation across CEU programmes, including the Community Engaged Learning Programme (CELP) and substance misuse training initiatives. Pearl is currently completing a PhD that examines responsive approaches to addressing intergenerational trauma and substance use disorder in communities in the Western Cape. Her research is closely aligned with CEU's mandate, emphasising community-driven knowledge production, contextual significance, and socially equitable involvement that addresses historical marginalisation and lived community realities. ceudatabase@uwc.ac.za +27 (21) 959 3124 View CEU staff Portfolios View our CE work Portfolios

My CEU Details Community Liaison Damaris Kiewiets She facilitate Health and Human Rights training for Community Leaders with the Dullah Omar Institute. She became a Chaplain in 2018 and served on the District Health Council for 2 terms in the Cape Metro. Her role at the university is to assist students and communities to understand the role of the university in the surrounding communities. She facilitates partnerships and networking opportunities. She is an ex-nurse and a strong health activist for Health, Human Rights and Social Development. She graduated as a Meridian in 2013. Damaris served on the Provincial Health Research Council “between” 2009-2014 and she currently serves on the Tygerberg hospital board. She was part of the advisory team of the School of Nursing developing the BA for nursing and very instrumental in the Community Health Component. She is second author on a paper looking at Community Participation in Health and third author on the paper on Health Committees as a Vehicle for Community Participation. ceu@uwc.ac.za +27 (21) 959 3124 View CEU staff Portfolios View our CE work Portfolios

My CEU Details CEU Administrator Liana Thomas Liana oversees the administrative processes of the Community Engagement Unit, ensuring seamless operations and efficient project support. Before joining the unit in 2015, she served as an executive personal assistant in the private sector, gaining valuable experience in high-level administrative coordination. A dedicated academic, she became a member of the Golden Key International Honour Society in 2020. She earned her B.LIS (Hons.) in 2023 and was recognized as a Dean's Merit List Candidate in 2022 for outstanding academic performance. She is currently pursuing a Master’s in Library and Information Science, further enhancing her organisational skills and expertise in the field. View CEU staff Portfolios View our CE work Portfolios

The Scholarship of Engagement (SOE) report by the DVC: Academic of the University of the Western Cape (UWC) The Scholarship of Engagement (SOE) Report CLICK Here to read the report

The Scholarship of Engagement (SOE) Report by the DVC: Academic at UWC CEU Colloquium Programme (2021) Booklet

Annual Colloquium of the CEU at UWC Upcoming Event Scholarship of Engagement Virtual Colloquium (2026) The THEME of the SoE Colloquium will be published at a later stage. When Date and time is TBD Virtual Event Learn more

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Scholarship of Engagement (SoE) for Societal Impact (SI) at the UWC Scholarship of Engagement for Societal Impact (SoE-SI) This Senate-approved framework has been developed as both a guideline and a practical resource that is institutionally specific, nationally applicable, and internationally aligned. As a guideline, it sets out the institutional understanding, commitment, and institutionalization of integrated engaged scholarship. As a practical resource, it provides workable definitions for key concepts relevant to the SoE and principles of CE. It also sets specific institutionalization factor areas against which SoE indicators can be developed to present the SoE metrics in relation to the institution’s contribution to social transformation – locally, nationally, regionally, and internationally. SoE for SI Framework The SoE-SI Framework Access the Senate approved SoE-SI Framework at the UWC Read more >> Scholarship of Engagement Model Read more >> SoE-SI Pilot Project Read more >> SoE-SI Website View the UWC SoE Model The operationalization of the SoE-SI Framework at the UWC Quick Links Terms of Reference CE Resource Centre Donate Now Get Involved Our Events Latest News Free Newsletter Visit us UWC Portal

Project Details Healthwise Zambia Healthwise Zambia Healthwise Zambia Project Gallery 1/1 < Previous Project Project Report Next Project >

The annual UWC Academic week with focus on Community Engagement Annual UWC Academic Week - CE Focus

The annual UWC Academic week with focus on Community Engagement Annual UWC Academic Week : CE Focus