University’s catalytic effect in engendering local development drives: insight into the instrumentality of community-based service learning

Journal article


Mbah, M. and Che, C. 2019. University’s catalytic effect in engendering local development drives: insight into the instrumentality of community-based service learning. Journal of Sustainable Development. 12 (3), pp. 22-34. https://doi.org/10.5539/jsd.v12n3p22
AuthorsMbah, M. and Che, C.
Abstract

The context of this paper is Africa, where communities have historically looked up to universities within their locality to maximize their intellectual capital and knowledge creation to foster regional development. How well these universities are actively responding to the demands of economic and social development require attention.

This paper reports an instrumental case study involving in-depth interviews and focus groups within a bounded locality in Cameroon to address what universities can do to enhance their contribution to local development. Findings suggest that whilst a university’s community-based service learning (CBSL) scheme can be ascertained as an instrument that can engender local development, this requires the fostering of relevant education for informed participation of different stakeholders in the framing but also firming up of CBSL objectives and processes. Furthermore, in order to optimize the prospect for local development instigated by CBSL activities, relevant stakeholders should go beyond short-term planning and adopt futuristic sustainable strategies. There is need to promote deeper dissemination, as well as follow-up on field findings for sustained implementation and outcomes.

Year2019
JournalJournal of Sustainable Development
Journal citation12 (3), pp. 22-34
PublisherCanadian Center of Science and Education
ISSN1913-9071
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.5539/jsd.v12n3p22
Related URLhttps://doi.org/10.5539/jsd.v12n3p22
http://www.ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/jsd/article/view/0/39441
FunderN/A
Publication dates
Online10 May 2019
Publication process dates
Deposited12 Jun 2019
Accepted25 Apr 2019
Accepted author manuscript
Output statusPublished
Additional information

Open Access. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

ContributorsMbah, M. and Che, C.
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