Community Engagement, Projects & Innovations

About the Unit

Community Engagement is the sixth (6th) pillar of the Short-Term Plan of the Vice-Chancellor’s vision for the University of Environment and Sustainable Development (UESD), Somanya. The pillar seeks to “work collaboratively with and through groups of people affiliated to UESD by geographic proximity, special interest, or similar situations to address issues affecting the well-being of these people.
Community Engagement is a powerful vehicle for bringing out environmental and behavioral changes, and for the mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources in a context of partnership and reciprocity”.

The Community Engagement, Project and Innovation Unit (CEPIU) has been established under the Vice-Chancellor’s office to ensure the attainment of the pillar in the vision of the Vice-Chancellor. The Unit presents this Framework and considers it a responsibility to contribute its quota to the development of communities within the communities in which the University operates, and would operate.

Our Mission

The mission of the Community Engagement, Projects and Innovations Unit (CEPIU) is to build mutually beneficial relationships and collaborations between schools, staff, and students of UESD, and the communities we serve through the University’s HOPE agenda.

Our Vision

Our vision is to cultivate healthy communities based on the sharing of knowledge and experience, collaborative education, and generation of scholarship driven by the needs of our partners with emphasis on Honesty, Opportunity, Perseverance and Enterprising (HOPE).

Our Goals are to:

• Bridge the scientific expertise of UESD with the needs of our community for the benefit of all.
• Connect UESD students with community engagement opportunities both on and off campus.
• Assist Schools and Departments with the development of co-curriculum community engagement opportunities.
• Prepare educated citizens with an increased civic responsibility.
• Increase UESD and the public’s awareness of social issues and the impact of community engagement programs.
• Manage on-going community engagement statistical data and partnership opportunities.

Our Values:

• Mutual Respect

Each person is inherently valuable, and we hold other people’s dignity equal to ours while recognizing that their beliefs, ideas, and values will differ. Mutual respect is the basis for authenticity, trust, and honest communication when we agree and disagree.

• Equity

We are committed to identifying and removing barriers, improving fairness in systems and outcomes, and creating a more inclusive understanding of how opportunities for success and achievement can be made available to all people.

• Access and Opportunity

We have a responsibility to ensure that all people have the awareness, opportunity, and support to benefit from the transformative power of university education.

• Learning and Development

We acknowledge that we will always have new things to learn, skills to develop, and that learning and development challenge us personally and professionally.

• Collaboration

We believe that the most pressing social, civic, economic, and moral problems are best solved through interdisciplinary collaborative partnerships within and beyond the academy.

• Responsibility

We must be accountable to ourselves and other members of the community.

• Civic Leadership

We recognize that the well-being of each member of our community is interconnected, and we dedicate ourselves to making our community better for all.

Sub-Units:

1. Research and Innovations
2. Administrative, Projects and Training
3. Community Relations and Outreach