Community Engagement and Its Evolving Terminology

Abstract

Definitions of what constitutes community engagement are constantly evolving. This chapter elaborates on Chap. 1 ’s introduction to the terminology and its historical trajectory, revealing different models of what constitutes community engagement for higher education in different contexts, followed by some case examples which are discussed in relation to the theoretical framework of capabilities and asset-based community development. Of particular interest for this book is the extent to which current practice can reflect the notion of a porous university. However, although the notions of service learning and learning cities are core aspects of community engagement these more specific activities are separately discussed in Chaps. 4 and 5 . Since the institutional issues and policy challenges of community engagement cut across all these chapters they will be reserved as a discussion point for the final chapter.