Paper short abstract:

This poster involves the movement of the African Indigenous Knowledge system of Ubuntu into a post-secondary Canadian context. It explores the possibility for university students to inspire and empower community members, with the potential to fuel movements, resistance, and committed citizenship.

Paper long abstract:

This research considers the ways in which elements of African Indigenous Knowledge systems can be moved and translated into a Canadian context to create programs, networks, and curricula that is collaborative, supportive, and productive.

The first part of the poster/research explores the potential for undergraduate students to engage in reciprocal capacity building opportunities in and with community engaged scholarship and research. It proposes the coupling of service learning with community based research to produce citizenship education as need or community initiated projects.

It discusses the privileged role of universities in both producing engaged citizens as well as permitting educational opportunities for students to participate in community engagement research affording citizenship education.

Service learning models are examined in nature, variety, and impact on students, schools, communities, individuals, and government. This is connected to and by research, particularly participatory action research and related methods.

The second part examines the concept of Ubuntu. Definitions and applications, theory, and practice, of the African indigenous knowledge system of Ubuntu is explored. This is considered in terms of practical application of frameworks and models in different disciplines, industries, and contexts.

Finally, in Part Three, all components are brought to together to propose and discuss a novel methodology.