Knowledge for Change Southern Hub
Rhodes University Community Engagement (RUCE) is the home of the South African Southern Hub of the UNESCO Knowledge for Change (K4C) Global Consortium.
The UNESCO Knowledge for Change (K4C) Consortium is an integral part of The Rhodes University Engaged Research Programme. The consortium embodies the university's commitment to collaboration and leveraging knowledge as a catalyst for positive societal change. The Consortium is an initiative of the UNESCO Chair in Community-Based Research and Social Responsibility in Higher Education, under the joint directions of Dr. Budd Hall (University of Victoria, Canada) and Dr. Rajesh Tandon (PRIA, India).
The UNESCO K4C Consortium focuses on developing individual and institutional research capacities for the co-creation of knowledge on issues related to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) established during the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The Consortium comprises organisations, institutions, researchers and advocates who share a common goal to harness the power of knowledge for transformative impact.
Training Hubs
A variety of local training hubs have been created under the K4C Consortium to design and conduct educational programs in order to develop research capacities for the co-creation of knowledge through collective action by practitioners, community-based researchers, community groups and academics. Each local hub is made up of at least a higher education institution (HEI) and a civil society organisation (CSO) collaborating on strengthening individual research capacities and professional skills using a variety of teaching methods.
Following a cascade training model, the K4C Consortium has developed a 21-week Mentor Training Program (MTP) based on online learning activities, a two-week face-to-face learning workshop, and a field work component to be carried out locally under the guidance of a local supervisor.
The mentors trained under the supervision of the UNESCO Co-Chairs will be given a certificate under the joint seal of the UNESCO Chair CBR-SR, PRIA International Academy (PIA) and the University of Victoria (UVic).
Upon successful completion of the MTP, the certified mentors are expected to play a key role in the development of the local hub, including the creation of teaching curriculum and pedagogy, and the development of research capacities in the local/regional hubs.
UNESCO K4C African Hub
Rhodes University is the coordinator of the UNESCO K4C African Hub for CBPR Training in Africa. This hub is based at Gulu University in Uganda, extending our research beyond national borders.
University Capacity Development Programme (UCDP)
Knowledge For Change Engaged Research at Rhodes University is funded by the University Capacity Development Programme (UCDP), a Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) funded program to support student, staff, and curriculum development.
Rhodes University Engaged Research Community of Practice
The Rhodes University Engaged Research Community of Practice, established in 2022, is a platform for academics, researchers, and students from diverse disciplines and sectors to connect, collaborate and learn.
This involves hybrid roundtable discussions to reflect on experiences, barriers and solutions in engaged research. CBPR Collaborative Discussions involve participants - academics and community partner organisations - delving into the fundamental principles of shared experiences and identified focus areas to enhance community-based participatory research. We also host Engaged Research seminars and collaborate with international institutions including Victoria University in Canada.
Last Modified: Thu, 07 Mar 2024 14:32:08 SAST