The Centrality of Engagement in Higher Education

Abstract

In her article on higher education and its relationship to efforts to solve wicked problems, Judith Ramaley noted that "workable responses and solutions to today's problems require new ways of learning, new ways of working together, and new definitions and measures of progress and success". This chapter argues that for higher education to contribute meaningfully to transformational change in society, it would have to act to make engagement scholarship a central aspect of its work, spanning the spectrum of its disciplinary units, centers, and institutes. Solving societal problems requires recognition that the problems are in society; as an embedded part of complex society systems, these societal problems affect universities and the students, alumni, faculty, and staff who are a part of both the university and community systems. Online learning challenges traditional approaches to knowledge generation, application, and dissemination, as well as measurement of outcomes.