Engaging with the Community through

the artsA University Perspective

4 April 2014

Universities are called to:- “demonstrate social responsibility … and

their commitment to the common good by making available expertise and infrastructure for community service programmes”

1997 White Paper on Higher Education.

‘responsiveness to regional and national needs, for academic programmes, research and community service’

Ministry of Education 2001 -National Plan for Higher Education (NPHE).

WHITE PAPER 4.8 Community Engagement and Graduate Community Service

“Given budgetary and other resource constraints within higher education and the vastly different ways in which universities approach community engagement, it is likely that future funding of such initiatives in universities will be restricted to programmes linked directly to the academic programmes of universities, and form part of the teaching and research functions of these universities”

Community Engagement (CE) One of the three founding principles

(together with teaching and research) of the post-apartheid reconstruction of the SA HE system.

Under-theorised aspect of the role of universities.

Not clearly defined in SA HE institutions

VISION 2014

To employ community engagement as a vehicle for transformation of the

academy and society

DEMONSTRATES COMMITMENT TO CE THROUGH:

Commitment of top leadership Strategic directives Alignment with the developmental

agenda (NDP and the MDGs) Budgets and Projects (R60 000 000 in

117 projects) Structures and systems Support and Enablement

UNISA MUSIC FOUNDATION – STAR PROJECT

Tuition in schools in disadvantaged communities and in prisons

Training of tutors, teachers, professional musicians and young and emerging musicians from disadvantaged communities (Unisa Music Examinations)

Facilitate performing opportunities for and showcase young and emerging artists

Music concerts through collaborations i.e. embassies

Unisa International Piano Competitions Orchestras

CE = RELATIONSHIPRELATIONSHIP =

TRANSFORMATION

WHAT IS A PERSON?

Descartes’ response - “I think therefore I am”

The Bantu response/Ubuntu - “I relate therefore I am”

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THROUGH MUSIC – transforms the

academy Research: Community-based research

and output T&L: Curricular Innovation Student engagement i.e. tutor

programme Partnerships and public engagement

(competitions and concerts) Speaks to Unisa’s social justice mandate

and the democratisation of knowledge

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THROUGH MUSIC – transforms

society Addressing socio-economic imperatives of the

country: empowerment; job creation; youth development

Speaks to graduateness: develops responsible citizens through the development of self esteem; fostering of ethical and aesthetical values; teaching of discipline & perseverance; leadership development; discovering identity

“Programme of social rescue and deep social transformation” (Josi Antonio Abreu)

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THROUGH MUSIC – transforms each

one of us

“You know you are deadwhen a rock settles

At the back of the throatYou don’t ask questions

And all the answers you knowRemain unchanged.”

Lebogang Mashile