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

2023 SoE Colloquium CEU Staff May 18-19 See our Events section for the planned details of the upcoming 2023 SoE Colloquium The annual SoE Colloquium by the CEU at the UWC < Previous News Go to Resource Centre Next News >

SoE-SI Webportal

Community Liaison 2021 Damaris Kiewiets The purpose of community liaison is to facilitate circular and equitable engagement between the university and its different community associates to collectively bring about positive societal/broader impacts. The CEU suggests a Community Engagement (CE) typology which presents the different types of Boyer’s scholarships, engagement, communities and stakeholder partners for each of the respective types. This is so that there is a spectrum though which the different types of engagement, communities and initiatives can be classified and accommodated. Our Community Associates: - Civil Society - Student Community - Scholarly Community < Previous CEU Work program CEU Staff Portfolios Next CEU Work program > 1/2

Latest News Founder & CEO The HECE Conference 2026 (Makhanda, Eastern Cape) Read More > Tech Lead Photo 2 This is your Team Member description. Use this space to write a brief description of this person’s role and responsibilities, or add a short bio. Office Manager Photo 3 This is your Team Member description. Use this space to write a brief description of this person’s role and responsibilities, or add a short bio. Product Manager Former Director This is your Team Member description. Use this space to write a brief description of this person’s role and responsibilities, or add a short bio. HR Lead Current Team This is your Team Member description. Use this space to write a brief description of this person’s role and responsibilities, or add a short bio. Customer Support Lead SOE Model (Boyer's Aligned) This is your Team Member description. Use this space to write a brief description of this person’s role and responsibilities, or add a short bio. QA Specialist SPARE This is your Team Member description. Use this space to write a brief description of this person’s role and responsibilities, or add a short bio. Content Strategist Debbie Green This is your Team Member description. Use this space to write a brief description of this person’s role and responsibilities, or add a short bio. Apply Today This is a Paragraph. Click on "Edit Text" or double click on the text box to start editing the content. info@mysite.com 123-456-7890

My CEU Details PG Student Assistant Emihle Gongota Emihle is a Postgraduate Student Assistant and supports the Community Engagement Unit with communications, social media, and research-related activities that enhance the visibility of community-engaged teaching, research, and partnerships across the university. In this role, Emihle contributes to digital content creation, assists with documenting CEU initiatives and events, and provides support for training activities and administrative processes within the unit. A motivated young scholar with a strong interest in sport, youth development, and community engagement, Emihle graduated cum laude with a Postgraduate Diploma in Sport Development and Peace. In recognition of academic excellence and leadership potential, Emihle was inducted into the Golden Key International Honour Society in 2024. Emihle is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Sport, Recreation and Exercise Science. Emihle’s research explores the lived experiences of student-athletes as they navigate the demands of balancing academic responsibilities with competitive sport. ceu@uwc.ac.za +27 (21) 959 3124 View CEU staff Portfolios View our CE work Portfolios

Scholarship of Engagement 2020 Dr Cornel Hart The Scholarship of Engagement (SOE) Model < Previous CEU Work program CEU Staff Portfolios Next CEU Work program > 1/2

Project Details Substance Misuse Training Program Substance Misuse Training Program Substance Misuse Training Program (SMTP) Project Gallery 1/1 < Previous Project Project Report Next Project >

My CEU Details CE Consultant Dr Cornel Hart Cornel Hart has a Masters in Research Methodology and a PhD for which she developed a model for assessing community development (CD) well-being. She’s the Vice-Chair of Operations for the Community Development Society (CDS) and was awarded the International Community Development Practice Award in the USA. Cornel has provided extensive training in CD, Logical Frameworks and Research Methodology in several countries and was the principle researcher for drafting the S.A. Policy Framework for CD Practice. ceu@uwc.ac.za +27 (21) 959 3124 View CEU staff Portfolios View our CE work Portfolios

Graduate Ceremony CoCT CEU & IA https://bit.ly/3xkCpl6 17 March 2022 Stakeholder Engagement Short Course Certificate Ceremony (2022) The Stakeholder Engagement Short Course Certificate Ceremony held at the Cape Town City Hall on the 17 March 2022. Click the Link above (https://bit.ly/3xkCpl6) to read the News item. < Previous News Go to Resource Centre Next News >

My CEU Details Substance Misuse Program Gayle Kaylor I am responsible for the Substance Misuse Program for the Community Engagement Unit (CEU) at the University of the Western Cape (UWC). ceutraining@uwc.ac.za +27 (21) 959 3124 View CEU staff Portfolios View our CE work Portfolios

My CEU Details Research Assistant Sinako Mgudlwa Sinako Mgudlwa is a Research Assistant at the Unit, where she supports research-intensive and database-driven projects. Her role includes qualitative data analysis, organising and managing research data, and contributing to the analytical and interpretive phases of research projects. She works closely with academic staff on studies that require methodological rigour, thematic analysis, and the production of high-quality research outputs. She holds a dual Honours degree and a Master’s degree in Population Studies and Economics. Her academic excellence has been recognised through membership in the Golden Key International Honour Society for outstanding performance in Economics Honours in 2020, as well as a Dean’s Merit Award and the ERSA Prize (in 2025) for exceptional achievement in her Economics Master’s degree. ceu@uwc.ac.za +27 (21) 959 3124 View CEU staff Portfolios View our CE work Portfolios