Can local knowledge make the difference? Rethinking universities' community engagement and prospect for sustainable community development

ABSTRACT

Against the backdrop of Africa's quest for development, there have been emerging demands for its universities to do more in contributing to development drives beyond their immediate sphere of operation. Drawing on an instrumental case study within an African community, this article heartens a reconsideration of African universities' community engagement as a catalyst for sustainable development. It ascertains that it would be beneficial to the university and its mission to foster sustainable development when local voices are assimilated within its knowledge creation, diffusion, and societal engagement objectives. Although this has the potential to instigate the university's engagement to address local and regional concerns and promote relevant development, this would be predicated on targeted collaborative engagement frameworks, underpinned by mutual trust.

KEYWORDS:

• Cameroon
• community engagement
• local knowledge
• sustainable development
• university