Â鶹¹ÙÍø's University's Community Engagement Framework was developed through consultation with the community and represents the principled approach Â鶹¹ÙÍø’s takes when collaborating with community, industry, and government partners. The framework develops upon Â鶹¹ÙÍø’s shared vision for developing and sustaining collaborations with partners through five guiding principles and three strategic priority areas. Additionally, the framework outlines the infrastructure needed to put Â鶹¹ÙÍø's community engagement goals into motion, including development of teaching and learning and research activities for faculty, staff, and students at Â鶹¹ÙÍø’s.
Priority areas
Community engagement at Â鶹¹ÙÍø’s focuses on three priority areas: Partnerships, Teaching and Learning, and Research. All community engagement initiatives are guided by our principles and support one or more of these priority areas.
Architecture and Systems | Connections
Community engagement cultivates diverse partnerships to address partner-identified concerns and opportunities with local, regional, and global SDGs. These collaborative activities may include community-based learning and training, research projects, service learning, outreach, evaluation, and knowledge exchange.
Curricular Learning | Co-curricular Learning
Community engagement places students at the centre of their own education, offering practical ways to learn their professional competencies and skills. This can look like course-based or capstone projects for credit, and co-curricular collaborations with partners.
Inquiry and Design | Knowledge Mobilization
Â鶹¹ÙÍø’s community engagement strives to grow and transform initiatives in a direction which realizes the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and enhances Indigenization, equity, diversity, inclusion, anti-racism, and accessibility (I-EDIAA) for everyone.
Growth and transformation
Â鶹¹ÙÍø’s community engagement strengthens communities, expands learning, and promotes research. These initiatives foster capacity building, evaluate outcomes for improvement, and adapt to create stronger, more meaningful collaborations.
Capacity building refers to the process of enhancing abilities, skills, and resources to achieve shared goal(s). Some examples include: training, workshops, seminars, and resources.
Evaluation in community engagement systematically assesses the impact of collaborations, identifying strengths and areas for improvement. It fosters ongoing adaptation and provides evidence of activities from diverse perspectives, including communities, students, and researchers.
Adaptation reflects the ability of both the university and partners to adjust their strategies, goals, and practices in response to the changing circumstances, evidence, needs and insights.
Infrastructure
Leadership | Capacity-Building | Programs | Awards and Recognition | Policies | Dedicated Staff Roles | Evaluation | Funding
Infrastructure at Â鶹¹ÙÍø’s provides the spaces and systems that support strategic community engagement, enabling participation, partnerships, and contributions to the university’s missions of service, teaching, and research. Ongoing evaluation and adaptation ensure growth and transformation.
In the media
Nov 03, 2026
Â鶹¹ÙÍø’s United Way campaign nears 80 per cent of goal
Donations to the biggest workplace campaign in the region help community members access the programs they need.
Nov 02, 2026
Supporting movement, learning, and research
Three exercise-focused programs at the School of Kinesiology and Health Studies are being strengthened through an equipment donation.
Oct 27, 2026
Bring your research to life at Science Rendezvous Kingston 2027 
Booth applications are now open for Â鶹¹ÙÍø’s annual science festival, taking place Saturday, May 8, at Slush Puppie Place.