Work

A community-centered perspective on community–university engagement and local development in Southeastern Europe

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: In a time of growing inequality and social isolation, community-university engagement (CUE) is becoming a priority among university administrators and social development stakeholders faced with increased pressure to find solutions to the grand challenges of our time. The existing literature scarcely documents the benefits of such programs on local communities. This study examines the experiences of 211 CUE partners from Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Croatia, and Kosovo and their perceived impact on local development. The findings provide insight into community stakeholders’ experiences working with universities, expanding the CUE literature beyond Western voices. It highlights the role of CUE in strengthening local capacity for development.

Source: International Journal of Research on Service-Learning and Community Engagement

DOI: 10.37333/001c.146133

Authors: Carmen Luca Sugawara, Dinka Caha, Hea-Won Kim

Institutions: Indiana University Indianapolis, University of Osijek

Language: English

Topic: Service-Learning and Community Engagement

Subfield: Education

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Partnerships for the goals, Sustainable cities and communities, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: bronze

Funder: Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis