Page 19 - UNNAT BHARAT ABHIYAN

18 Fostering Social Responsibility & Community Engagement in Higher Education Institutions in India

research in the field. However, such research is currently carried out only to advance
the research interests of the students and faculty. Research questions can be framed in
partnership with local community so that new knowledge thus produced can provide
solutions to local challenges.

In addition, most researchers—students and faculty—generally assume that community
does not have much knowledge on the subject of their research interests. Such an orientation
is largely based on ignorance of local expertise and knowledge available with the community
and other practitioners. Undertaking research in partnership with local communities can
access local knowledge and further contribute to new knowledge solutions. Local community
can be involved as co-researchers in data-collection and sharing of results.

In a several countries, governments incentivise community engagement through additional
funding for HEIs. Indonesia and South Africa have developed extensive programme in
this regard. Canada’s Social Science & Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) began a
separate research funding stream focusing on Community –University Research Council
(CURA). “Recognising the significance of the theme of social responsibility in higher
education, UNESCO has instituted a Chair on Community based Research and Social
Responsibility in Higher Education (www.unescochaircbr-sr.org)

There is a large body of knowledge on community-based participatory research (CBPR)
already in practice in India, and internationally. Use of CBPR methodology generates locally
appropriate knowledge solutions, as well as disseminates new knowledge for generating
awareness and taking actions to improve the situation in light of that new knowledge9

Pt Ravi Shankar Shukla University Raipur is undertaking such CBPR on issues of women’s
empowerment jointly agreed with local tribal community and State Planning Commission.
It is a part of a global consortium on Knowledge4Change (K4C). K4CConsortium)

In addition, undertaking research in partnership with local community helps in
documenting and systematising local knowledge generated through years of practice and
experience.Centre for indigenous knowledge in agriculture -(CIKA) at Gandhigram
Rural University is set up to document, analyze, validate, standardize and further
propagate the Indigenous Knowledge/ Practices in Agricultural and allied fields under
various farming systems of Tamil Nadu. Likewise, Centre for Society-University Interface
(CSUIR) at BPS University undertook documentation of local Ayurvedic practices for
treatment of animals and propagated the same.

In order to promote the practice of sustainability in the infrastructure and functioning of
HEIs, it can undertake research in partnership with local communities to reduce energy
and carbon consumption. Such partnership research can also help recycle water and waste
in ways that are locally useful by communities around them.

When HEIs undertake research in partnership with local communities and other
institutions, they can improve the relevance and quality of their research. Local
governments, district administration, local business and NGOs can all benefit from

9 http://unescochair-cbrsr.org/pdf/resource/BHALL_Community_Based_Research_ENG_Dec13.pdf