University and Community Engagement Today: Lessons from Scholar-Activists

Volume 10, Issue 6, December 2025     |     PP. 344-366      |     PDF (265 K)    |     Pub. Date: November 19, 2025
DOI: 10.54647/education880636    18 Downloads     132 Views  

Author(s)

B.J. Johnson, Transformation and Employment Equity Office, Research Associate Wits School of Education , University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
M. Hlatshwayo, Worker Education and Labour Studies, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa

Abstract
Researchers and practitioners of community engagement (CE) at universities have dedicated significant effort to understanding who the community is, what CE entails, how it has evolved over time, and showcasing various case studies that illustrate the ways universities can engage with their communities and vice versa. However, there is a noticeable gap in the literature on CE regarding the scholarly recognition of left-wing non-governmental organisations (LNGOs) led by influential public intellectuals rooted in working-class and left-wing movements in South Africa. Based on authentic primary, internet, and secondary sources, this article uncovers the hidden histories of deep political engagement led by prominent public intellectuals and activists that date back to the struggle against apartheid – a history that has largely been overlooked in CE scholarship. Utilising the university as a foundation, these activists established LNGOs to support the working-class struggle.

Keywords
left-wing non-governmental organisations, scholar-activists, university, community engagement, South Africa

Cite this paper
B.J. Johnson, M. Hlatshwayo, University and Community Engagement Today: Lessons from Scholar-Activists , SCIREA Journal of Education. Volume 10, Issue 6, December 2025 | PP. 344-366. 10.54647/education880636

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