Higher Education Institution- Community Engagement
It is critical to highlight the community engagement work that is currently taking place between higher education institutions (HEIs) and communities. HEIs are emphasizing the need to strengthen community relationships, and this is often referred to as the “third mission” of HEIs. This is often reflected through formal partnerships or other engagement activities with community members, organizations, etc.
HEI-community partnerships for sustainability specifically coincide with HEIs’ expanded mission to address real-world societal challenges. These types of engaging partnerships aim to:
- Use multiple ways of thinking and knowledge to generate unique solutions to complex problems
- Develop relevant solutions for the local community
- Provide an informed evidence-base from which to make critical decisions
- Build the capacity of local community members
- Inform both research and practice
HEI-Community Engagement Work in Action
The Environmental Sustainability Research Centre at Brock University currently has 7 formalized partnerships, each with their own purpose and collaborative team.
- Brock-Lincoln Living Lab
- The Prudhommes Project
- Trails, Assets, and Tourism Initiative
- World Wildlife Fund
- Brock University Project Charter
- Excellence in Environmental Stewardship Initiative (EESI)
- Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT)
- Niagara Adapts (currently wrapping up)
Click here to learn more about HEI-community engagement from Brock University Environmental Sustainability Research Centre’s Innovative partnerships!
