COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

The following community engagement models are supported by the University of Lilongwe through community-engaged learning courses, student employment, or volunteer opportunities for groups or individuals.

Community Building

Projects that intentionally bring people together to simply get to know one another. Examples include the University Open Day.

Community Education

Projects that provide instructional services or curricula, or serve to educate the public about a social issue (in a non-partisan way). Examples include the Parenting Program, Community English as. Second Language classes, and German as a Foreign Language.

Community Organizing

Projects that bring people together with the goal of solving a community issue. Please note that UNILIL cannot work on partisan issues, but can contribute to creating solutions for non-partisan, local issues. An example is assistance in establishing the an early Childhood Center at Mzumara Villange along Mchinji Road.

Deliberative Dialogue

Projects that intentionally bring people together to build understanding across differences.

Direct Service

Projects that provide a service or product to an individual, group, or the community as a whole. Examples include filling a volunteer shift at a local organization, creating social media tools for an organization, or creating a community mural.

Engaged Research

Research that directly benefits the community by clarifying the causes of a community challenge, mapping a community’s assets, or contributing to solutions to current challenges and also fits a faculty member’s research agenda. In the best-case scenario, faculty with research expertise work alongside community members and students on such projects. An example would be the Mzumara Village community needs assessment.

Institutional Engagement

University resources intentionally offered without undue barriers to the community. UNILIL can play a role in envisioning institutional engagement efforts. Examples include making University library cards available for community members, making campus events accessible, and choosing to use local and sustainable businesses to supply services or goods.

In all these activities, our students are actively engaged and involved.