Cultivating Humanity: Reflexivity in Higher Education Community Engagement in South Africa
Identification
- Public canonical key
- radar:r-7641c45acd7cc9914f3e474bce8da2d2
- Authors
- Vhonani Ṋetshandama
- Reported year
- 2026
- Reported language
- en
- Source type
- book-chapter
- First detected
- 2026-11-13T12:50:51.815187+00:00
- Last metadata observation
- 2026-11-13T12:50:51.815187+00:00
- Last HTTP verification
- Not checked
Institutions reported by the source
University of Venda
Reported affiliation countries
ZA
Documentary abstract — original language
This chapter examines how South African higher education can reimagine community engagement (CE) as a deliberate practice for cultivating humanity, understood as empathy, dignity, respect, reciprocity, and reflexivity. Drawing on Ubuntu philosophy, reflexive scholarship and intergenerational mentorship, the chapter argues that the predominance of transactional and output-driven approaches in universities has constrained the development of humane, inclusive, and socially responsive academic cultures. I position CE as a critical space within higher education where relational, ethical, and transformative practices can take root, enabling institutions to align their scholarly obligations with their moral and civic responsibilities. Through Ubuntu-informed relationality, mentorship, and inclusive pedagogies, a framework for cultivating humanity emerges, one that challenges epistemic hierarchies and affirms community expertise. Despite its transformative potential, CE remains undervalued and inconsistently institutionalised. The chapter concludes by proposing an integrated approach that foregrounds relational ethics, scholarly reflexivity and mentorship as foundational commitments for universities aspiring to embed humanity at the centre of their engagement with communities.
Identifiers
- OPENALEX
- https://openalex.org/W7160667550
- DOI
- 10.21504/2rnxc103
Documentary context
- Documentary family
- Book chapter
- Source-reported types
- book-chapter
Entity mentions are not evidence of legal recognition. Jurisdiction studied is separate from author affiliation country.
Book bibliographic description
- Reported publication date
- 2026-01-01
Access status unknown
Sources
OpenAlex · Record 1
Cite this reference
Vhonani Ṋetshandama. Cultivating Humanity: Reflexivity in Higher Education Community Engagement in South Africa. 2026. https://doi.org/10.21504/2rnxc103
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- APA
- Vhonani Ṋetshandama. (2026). Cultivating Humanity: Reflexivity in Higher Education Community Engagement in South Africa. https://doi.org/10.21504/2rnxc103
- Chicago
- Vhonani Ṋetshandama. Cultivating Humanity: Reflexivity in Higher Education Community Engagement in South Africa. 2026. https://doi.org/10.21504/2rnxc103
- ISO 690
- Vhonani Ṋetshandama. Cultivating Humanity: Reflexivity in Higher Education Community Engagement in South Africa. 2026. https://doi.org/10.21504/2rnxc103
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UDTR Global Rights of Nature Legal Library. Cultivating Humanity: Reflexivity in Higher Education Community Engagement in South Africa. Documentary record: https://www.declarationuniverselledesdroitsdelarbre.org/global-rights-of-nature-radar/reference/r-7641c45acd7cc9914f3e474bce8da2d2/ · Last HTTP verification: not performed
Research dossiers and documentary relations
Source roles
Bibliographic / original publication source · https://doi.org/10.21504/2rnxc103
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Documentary status
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