Lecture on 'Knowledge Democracy & Community Engagement'

Dr. Rajesh Tandon has been invited to contribute as a guest presenter to the first formal Level 8 Community Engagement qualification in South Africa, being offered by the Community Engagement Division of Rhodes University. The programme, a Postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education Community Engagement, begins with Module 1, scheduled from 26–30 January 2026. This foundational module, Higher Education and Community Engagement, sets the context for three additional modules to be offered later in the year, focusing on strengthening institutional and societal engagement practices.

Dr. Tandon will deliver a virtual guest lecture on Friday, 30 January 2026 (8:30–9:30 am SA time) on the theme 'Knowledge Democracy and Community Engagement'. His presentation will highlight the relevance of knowledge democracy for higher education institutions, development organisations, and public systems, drawing from decades of global experience in participatory research and community–university partnerships.

The programme brings together a diverse cohort of participants from universities, civil society organisations, business, and government departments. This session will also provide a conceptual bridge to Module 2: Engaged Research, which focuses on Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) and introduces the Knowledge for Change (K4C) programme, a global initiative co-led by PRIA.