Socially Engaged Scholarship (SES)
A university that is beyond and above the social and political system of the society where it exists is unfeasible.
About Socially Engaged Scholarship
Many people on the continent tend to narrow adult education to functional literacy programmes focusing on the 3Rs (Reading Writing and Arithmetic). In reality, adult education responds to a variety of issues across multiple sectors (e.g. health, agriculture, climate change, livelihoods, etc.). It is time to ‘reinvent’ adult education so that it responds to the following:
- Adult education that has a social purpose and draws on the historical knowledge and experience of African countries.
- Adult education as a driver of socio-economic and political development.
- The need to build (or re-build) the bridge between communities, adult learning centres and universities.
SES was launched to encourage a new kind of academic engagement, one which centres the community in the learning and development process.
Socially useful scholarship cannot contemplate a retreat into the world of concepts, dialogue and theorisation alone. It must be located in the world of real relations, social struggles and the effects on the lives of human beings.
Regional Priorities and Regionalisation
At the First Africa Adult Learning and Education (ALE) Conference in October 2024, African regions identified ten thematic areas they considered most urgent for Adult Learning and Education (ALE). In 2025, academics from the regions met again to narrow these lists to three priority areas per cluster.
During this process it became clear that many regions shared overlapping priorities. Instead of working separately across four or five regional groups, the priorities were consolidated and the regions agreed to work in two clusters in East & Southern Africa and West, Central & North Africa.
Each cluster adopted Socially Engaged Scholarship (SES) as the framework to guide collaboration and action within their chosen areas.
- East & Southern Africa priorities:
- Skills Development & Sustainable Livelihoods
- Active Citizenship
- Transformative Community Research
- West, Central & Northern Africa priorities:
- Funding of ALE
- Climate Change and Peace Education
- Vocational Training for Youths
These priorities are now explored through regional academic webinars, where one country at a time hosts the discussion, shares national experience, and leads collective reflection. This process allows for regional solidarity, joint learning, and better coordinated regional action through a SES framework.
Webinars & Events
MOJA hosts regular webinars that open space for dialogue among academics, practitioners, and communities.
Upcoming sessions and recordings of past webinars will be available here on the MOJA platform and via our social media pages. Follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, LinkedIn
Engage with SES
There are multiple ways to take part in the SES project:
- Join the Network - stay informed and connected. Contact us to join.
- Share Your Work - contribute articles, case studies, and reflections.
- Collaborate – help to co-develop webinars in your region or Africa wide
- Engage in Dialogue - participate in debates online on the future of Socially engaged scholarship in Africa.
Click here if you would like to join the SES Community or have further information about it.
Explore SES Resources
Articles
- Some Thoughts on the Question of Engaged Scholarship by Enver Motala
- Socially engaged Scholarship – The role of CIPSET by Ivor Baatjes
Past Webinar Recordings
Building Alternatives through Socially-Useful and Engaged Scholarship | ||
The history and political economy of adult education in Africa | ||
Socially Engaged Scholarship Webinar | ||
Southern and East Africa Regional Meeting: Sustainable Livelihood and Skills Development |