What is the initiative and where is it implemented (city or country, for example)?
CommUniversity, an initiative of the University of Technology (UTech) in Jamaica, is an ‘outreach intervention to create a local community-university network to collaborate learning, exchange of ideas and knowledge for enhancement of life and prosperity, through partnerships with public, private agencies, and individuals’ (Bartley-Bryan, 2013, p. 2). The concept of the CommUniversity is aligned to one of the UTech strategic goals for national impact: assisting local communities in building their capacities for learning, growth and development.
How was the initiative established? How was it implemented?
The CommUniversity initiative originated as a mandate of the UTech university to promote learning through service to communities. Formerly the College of Arts, Science and Technology (CAST), UTech established a work-study requirement which was later renamed as the Community Service Initiative (Bartley-Bryan, 2013).
The pilot of the initiative was implemented in communities neighbouring UTech within a two-mile radius. The area was selected based on data extracted from the Social Development Commission (SDC) report of 2009. The demographic details of the communities had raised significant concerns within the group of potential stakeholders – youth representatives, community leaders and local community members. In 2011, a focus group session was held to collect ideas and plan the developmental stage of the initiative. Based on the demographic report, the main concerns within the area were low attainment levels in primary, secondary and higher education and lack of employable skills among adults. The focus group decided to concentrate on providing nutritional and parenting support to improve expectations and reduce disaffection, frustration and discouragement resulting from high unemployment and financial instability (Bartley-Bryan, 2017).
Which stakeholders are involved in the design and/or implementation of the initiative? Which sectors do they represent?
The University of Technology facilitates access to a vast diversity of educational resources and digital technologies to support the community's interest in continued development, as well as enhance participatory learning and collective responsibility for action.
The initiative is facilitated by collaboration between UTech Community Service Department (CSD) and the Office of Distance Learning (ODL). CommUniversity provides training in vocational literacy skills and core values development for target communities based on partnerships with various local and international agencies.
The pilot of the CommUniversity curriculum focused on integrating basic literacy-numeracy competencies and vocational skills based on the Commonwealth of Learning (CoL) framework. The core values and attitudes component also integrates basic literacy skills within the formal-informal curriculum to focus on identity; respect for and understanding of self, community and country; communication and conflict resolution, family life and relationships, healthy lifestyles and wellness (Bartley-Bryan, 2013, p. 4).
The target communities are primarily unemployed adults, between 21 and 34 years old, and ‘at-risk’ out of school youth, between 15 and 20 years old. The goal is to engage the communities in participatory learning to empower them to implement appropriate strategies for sustaining socioeconomic livelihood and well-being (Bartley-Bryan, 2017).
The training employs a flexible blended approach and implements technological tools, such as videos, community radio and cable television, to promote crucial topics in the community. There is also an option to attend classes face-to-face to allow flexibility and greater access to learning and build community through individual and group learning activities.
Commonwealth of Learning (CoL) provided technical assistance in training and material development, while university and community partners covered the administrative and logistical arrangements (Bartley-Bryan, 2017). However, a steady flow of financial resources is required to assure the sustainability of the project.
What are the impacts of the initiative in terms of facilitating lifelong learning? Whom does it benefit and how?
University of Technology in Jamaica has been exploring a non-formal community approach to TVET through its CommUniversity initiative. The initiative was designed to develop and support community-university networks for collaborative learning and knowledge exchange. In partnership with public and private agencies, UTech facilitates access to information and communication technologies and educational resources. The initiative enables communities to explore learning pathways and empowers personal and professional development (Bartley-Bryan, 2017).
The central imperative of the initiative is to promote equity and overall life quality by reducing poverty, hunger, disease and exclusion. Health, education and sustainability are considered to be crucial pillars to support the next generation, reduce crime and violence and promote national well-being.
The UTech annual reports of 2011 and 2013 reported on the successful application of the Commonwealth of Learning grant to continue the implementation of the project in the communities of Highlight View, Kintyre and Hope Tavern for the training of 600 persons, mainly in the ‘youth at-risk, category, over a three-year period. The reports also highlighted the ongoing collaboration between the Ministry of Education, the Jamaican Foundation for Lifelong Learning (JFLL), the National Council for Technical and Vocational Education (NCTVET) and the Office of Distance Learning to develop an occupational skills curriculum for a pilot group in the area (UTech, 2016).
Bartley-Bryan, J. M., 2013. The UTech CommUniversity initiative for developing vocational literacy skills and core values through flexible learning: Challenges & success factors. The Seventh Pan Commonwealth Forum Open Learning for Development: Towards empowerment and transformation. Burnaby, British Columbia. Available at: http://oasis.col.org/handle/11599/1856 [Accessed 23 July 2021].
Bartley-Bryan, J. M., 2017. Jamaica: UTech. In: C. Latchem, ed. 2011. Using ICTs and blended learning in transforming TVET. Paris, UNESCO and Burnaby, British Columbia, Commonwealth of Learning. pp. 117–130. Available at: http://oasis.col.org/bitstream/handle/11599/2718/2017_Latchem_Using-ICTs-and-Blended-Learning.pdf [Accessed 23 July 2021].
University of Technology, Jamaica, 2016. Annual reports. [Online] Available at: www.utech.edu.jm/@@search?SearchableText=CommUniversity [Accessed 30 November 2020].