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Universities and Their Regional Communities: A Theory of Engagement Based On Human Capital, Ethics and the Public Good
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Universities and Their Regional Communities: A Theory of Engagement Based On Human Capital, Ethics and the Public Good

Steven Garlick and Victoria Palmer
Proceedings of the 2008 Australian Universities Community Engagement Alliance National Conference Proceedings, p.94
Australian Universities Community Engagement Alliance (AUCEA) National Conference: Engaging for a sustainable future, 2008 (Sunshine Coast, Australia, 09-Jul-2008–11-Jul-2008)
2008

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Abstract

Specialist Studies in Education Other Studies in Human Society university engagement human capital regional engagement
The popularisation of the engagement relations between universities and their local and regional communities over the past decade runs the risk of being a 'top-down' funding-conditional formulaic model of rules rather than a means for more acutely addressing the big issues of the world through principles framed around a relational ethic where context and the dynamic of entity-free 'enterprising' human capital are central. In this paper we agree with arguments about the importance of 'place' in providing a context for building a relational ethic (Smith 2001). Elsewhere, we have termed this 'sp-ethics'. We also agree with arguments that a relational ethic is important in sustaining values for community cohesion in a globalising world where fragmentation appears to be the chief outcome (Bauman 1995, 2001, 2007). In this paper, we suggest a relational ethic of 'place' offers a theoretical framework for university-based human capital, free of structural constraints, to address community concerns of global importance. In so doing this would provide two benefits. First, it offers a way beyond the transcendental for hose seeking the practical implementation of moral principles in their communities in a world dominated by neo-liberal rules of institutionalism and individualism that do not offer solutions to global concerns. Second, it offers university-community engagement process and practice a theoretical underpinning to its current unguided and consequential ethical focus and a tighter connection between knowledge and the public good. In this regard we are keen to see a progression of the discipline beyond the interesting 'good practice' case study and a 'good faith' approach to addressing the public good by universities. In implementing such an approach we suggest the vehicle is a stronger connection in the role of 'enterprising' human capital in university-community engagement with a focus on unambiguous pathways across education sectors and stronger connections to community priorities of global concern in the design and delivery of university programs. We suggest this role for universities and their communities because the ethics of 'enterprising' human capital is not yet constrained by the structural arrangements of corporate and institutional entities. An embedded relational ethic of this kind also calls for changes in university practice (management support, programs) and a re-balancing of funding arrangements at a policy level that support such practice.

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