Community engagement is not just a programme. It is a partnership, a shared journey, and a commitment to listen, understand, and grow together,” said Prof Awie Kotze, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the North-West University (NWU).

This ethos came to life during a three-day community-led knowledge co-creation seminar hosted by the Faculty of Health Sciences from 30 October to 1 November. The seminar united representatives from communities in Vaal, Mahikeng, and Potchefstroom with government stakeholders and academics in a shared mission to strengthen collaboration, understand community needs, and co-create sustainable solutions for improved health and development outcomes.

Prof Kotze opened the seminar with a warm welcome to all participants. He emphasised that universities can only make a meaningful impact when they actively engage with the communities they serve. “The voices of our communities guide our initiatives and ensure that our efforts are relevant, impactful, and sustainable,” he said. He encouraged participants to share openly — not only their successes but also the challenges they face. He highlighted that listening and learning from communities is just as important as providing support.

The seminar offered a reflective space for communities to share their experiences before partnering with the NWU. Many described how their initiatives had previously struggled with structure, continuity, and sustainability. Community members shared that, through their partnership with the university, they had gained guidance, resources, and long-term planning skills that have made a tangible difference. “Before working with the NWU, we struggled to plan and sustain our programmes,” one community leader reflected. “Since partnering with the university, we have seen real progress — not only in how we address our challenges but in how we plan for the future together.”

Facilitator Prof Ushotanefe Useh explained that this initiative represents a deliberate shift from traditional outreach to a model of sustained engagement. “Often, community engagement ends when a project ends,” he said. “This seminar allows us to hear directly from communities — to understand what works, what doesn’t, and what they hope to achieve going forward. True collaboration requires ongoing dialogue and mutual accountability.”

Representatives from the Department of Health also attended, commending the initiative and reaffirming their commitment to partnerships with higher education institutions such as NWU. A senior official highlighted that meaningful engagement goes beyond providing services. It requires listening, understanding, and empowering communities to take ownership of their development. “It is encouraging to see the university working hand in hand with the people it serves,” he said. “Aligning research and outreach activities with community priorities will help drive lasting change and better health outcomes.”

 

 

 

NWU has a long-standing commitment to community engagement, integrating it into both research and teaching. Across its campuses, the university implements programmes that respond to local community needs, from health interventions to education initiatives, skills development, and capacity building. By embedding engagement into its strategic vision, the NWU ensures that its academic work remains directly relevant to the social challenges communities face, creating partnerships that are mutually beneficial and enduring.

The three-day seminar was also a celebration of collaboration, optimism, and shared purpose. Participants worked together to develop action plans aimed at strengthening long-term partnerships, nurturing continuous learning, and ensuring that community voices remain at the heart of university initiatives. The discussions underscored that co-created knowledge has the power to transform lives, promote resilience, and empower communities to shape their own futures.

By placing community needs and voices at the centre of its initiatives, the Faculty of Health Sciences continues to embody the NWU’s vision of being an institution in service of society — where learning, research, and outreach extend far beyond the classroom and into the communities it is committed to supporting.