Engagement

ECU is committed to engagement through the University's ECU: Engaging Minds; Engaging Communities. Towards 2020. plan. (Updated July '08)

ECU's long term goal for engagement is:

"for ECU to be recognised for the range and quality of our engagement activities which will be a point of differentiation for ECU, produce mutual benefits and productive relationships with the University's various communities."

Defining Engagement

Engagement at ECU denotes a particular form of interaction between the University and the broader community. This interaction is characterised by a two way flow of benefits.

"University-Community Engagement is defined by its focus on reciprocal, mutually-beneficial knowledge-driven relationships between the higher education institutions and community partners.

These interactions are based on an understanding that some elements of academic goals related to leadership, research, teaching/ learning, internationalisation, infrastructure, and service can only be achieved successfully through a collaborative relationship with community sources of knowledge and expertise." (AUCEA definition, Garlick and Langworthy)

The key element in successful engagement between a university and a community is mutuality. In short, there should be benefits for both parties if engagement is to be meaningful, sustained and successful.

What is ECU doing in Engagement?

ECU has long had an emphasis on engaging with and serving its communities. As a relatively new university with a history of preparing students for work in the service professions, ECU has valued its links with the communities it serves.

Institutional initiatives in engagement include:

• The three precincts of Mt Lawley, Joondalup and the South West have laid the foundation for sustained partnerships with the community and local organisational partners, including the Joondalup Learning Precinct partnership.
• A South West Engagement Plan, developed with the assistance of the South West Advisory Board in 2006, guides engagement activities at ECU's regional campus in Bunbury.
• In 2006, a position of Pro Vice-Chancellor for Engagement was created.
• Course advisory and consultative committees include membership of key industry and community leaders.
• The Academic Promotions Policy has been updated to include engagement as a relevant factor in academic promotions.

In addition to these whole-of-university initiatives to progress engagement, the University community is active in engagement in a range of areas. A compendium has been prepared providing examples of the range of current engagement activities at ECU.

The Engagement Functional Plan 2008-2010 was approved by the University Council in June 2008. The plan contains strategies and actions to assist the University to achieve its long-term engagement goal which is:

“'for ECU to be recognised for the range and quality of our engagement activities which will be a point of differentiation by producing mutual benefits and productive relationships with the University's various communities.'
Source: Engaging Minds; Engaging Communities. Towards 2020.