Understanding university community engagement in a rural context: A mixed study

This doctoral dissertation aims to understand university Community Engagement (CE) in a
rural context in Uganda and to test a CE model and the processes of engaging various
stakeholders in CE. The first study systematically reviews the literature regarding
characteristics, theories, models, and critical elements that foster successful CE outcomes.
From the findings, the conceptualisation of university CE underscores the importance of
reciprocity, shared benefits and engagement that focuses on the needs of stakeholders. The
second study explored how engaged university stakeholders perceived CE regarding benefits,
opportunities, challenges, and their needs for CE. Data were collected by way of a survey.
Respondents were categorised as academic staff (n=53), students (n=194), and dairy farmers
(n=203). One-way ANOVA findings showed that the three categories of stakeholders perceived
CE differently and had multiple needs. Findings underscored the importance of empathy and
responsive communication in bridging the gap between these diverse university stakeholder
voices.
Therefore, the third study demonstrates a co-creation process where different university
stakeholders were engaged in developing a dairy app for CE. The study followed the stages of
the design thinking model: ideation to generate content for the app's initial requirements,
prototyping a usable app and testing the functionality and content of the app with end users.
This study's findings showed that stakeholders' active participation in the app development
process yielded valuable insights, resulting in a tool that addresses practical needs and reflects
the essence of shared ownership. Having developed a technology tool l for CE, the fourth study
assessed factors that could influence rural farmers' readiness and intention to use the dairy app.
The aspiration Intention to use the application was assessed with nine constructs. A survey was
used to gather data from 466 respondents: dairy farmers from five districts. A Partial Least
Squares- structural equation modelling analysis technique was applied to test the research
model using Smart PLS (v3.3.3). The findings strongly supported all the anticipated
relationships predicted in our research model. The study findings signal a promising future for
successfully implementing and using technology tools in university CE initiatives. For
instance, the significance of awareness and perceived usefulness of the Rwenzori dairy
suggests that the app successfully communicates its value to users.
The last study focused on developing and testing a model of input dimensions influencing
university CE processes and outcomes at the university and community levels. Our model
comprises institutional, personal community and professional dimensions as input elements
that could influence the CE process and outcomes at institutional and community levels. We
tested the CE model with a sample of 126 academics and 216 community partners from the
Rwenzori region of Uganda. The study used a structural equation modelling technique to assess
the relationship in the model. The results demonstrated the significance of institutional,
community, and professional/occupational dimensions to the engagement participation
process.
The research is significant as it validates both theoretical and practical dimensions of CE in a
rural context in Uganda, hence contributing to new knowledge from a developing country
viewpoint. Besides, this research contributes to the CE debate by developing a model that can
serve as a strategic roadmap for guiding the universities' efforts to create meaningful,
sustainable, and reciprocal relationships with their communities.