Abstract

VENTER, K.  and  HOLTZHAUSEN, S.. National support for professional development of engaged scholars in higher education. S. Afr. J. High. Educ. [online]. 2025, vol.39, n.6, pp.280-296. ISSN 1753-5913.  https://doi.org/10.20853/39-6-6208.

Although most South African universities have institutionalised community engagement, research indicates that engaged scholars need national support for professional development. This article focuses on the findings of a qualitative action research study undertaken by 11 board members of the South African Higher Education Community Engagement Forum (SAHECEF). The study's appreciative inquiry summit method was steered by the question: How can SAHECEF become a flourishing community of praxis for national support of engaged scholars' professional development? Guided by a semi-structured interview protocol, collective data generation occurred through paired appreciative conversations, while data analysis occurred in small and large group dialogues. The appreciative inquiry resulted in SAHECEF discovering its value-based best practices and organisational character strengths, serving as a foundation for designing an action plan to deliver national support for engaged scholars who profess the praxis of engaged scholarship.

Keywords : appreciative inquiry; engaged scholarship; professional development; service-learning; South African Higher Education Community Engagement Forum.

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