ERIC Number: EJ962836
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2011-May
Pages: 17
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1477-9714
EISSN: N/A
Higher Education and Community Service: Developing the National University of Lesotho's Third Mission
Preece, Julia
Journal of Adult and Continuing Education, v17 n1 p81-97 May 2011
Universities have traditionally embraced three missions: teaching, research and community service. The latter usually receives lower status than the other two missions. There has, however, been a revival of interest in community service as a policy oriented exercise for universities and regional development, partly stimulated by international demands for relevance in higher education. This paper provides a background context to the revival of interest and then examines how one university in a "least developed country" is interpreting the concept of community service in the face of internal resource challenges and international development targets. The paper reports on work in progress but makes tentative observations for future policy orientation in the light of preliminary findings from a university audit and stakeholder discussions. Reference to follow-up case studies is also made. The concluding argument is that universities in developing country contexts should embrace the community service mission in order to justify increased funding support.
Descriptors: Higher Education, Service Learning, Foreign Countries, Institutional Mission, Educational Policy, Educational Development, Audits (Verification), Case Studies, Community Services, School Community Programs, School Community Relationship, Developing Nations, Observation, Interviews, Focus Groups, Poverty Programs, Administrator Role, Institutional Characteristics, Educational Research
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Lesotho
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A