Project description
The Town and Gown programme at the University of the Free State refers to our commitment to be an integral part of the immediate towns close to our campuses. As an academic institution, we actively participate in innovative developmental processes aimed at improving the socio-economic conditions and building social cohesion within those towns in collaborative partnerships with other stakeholders.
The rationale
This programme is aimed at coordinating all university efforts designed towards building and strengthening our commitment of an engaged university through community engagement (partnerships, community service and volunteerism, research and community service-learning).
Project content
- Build sustainable partnerships to coordinate the scarce resources to address societal problems.
- Avail our intellectual resources to partner with government, business, civic, religious, and traditional institutions.
- Raise awareness among communities and their leaders about the intellectual and economic inputs, as well as other benefits provided by the university in the local economies.
- Raise awareness within municipal and non-governmental organisations on how communities can benefit from the relevant research and other academic projects undertaken to address certain specific societal challenges.
- ·Build and strengthen the relationships with schools to improve teaching and learning.
- Build supportive relationships with community and welfare organisations.
- Create opportunities for our students to learn how to serve through community service-learning and volunteer programmes.
- Facilitate the documenting and celebration of local histories.