Rethinking Community-engaged Approaches I: Principles, Methods, and Tools

Roundtable Convenor(s)

• 

  Paul Rabe

  International Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS), Netherlands
• RP

  Rita Padawangi

  Singapore University of Social Sciences, Singapore

Roundtable Chair(s)

• AP

  Adrian Perkasa

  International Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS), Netherlands
• BN

  Boonanan Natakun

  Thammasat University, Thailand

Roundtable Participant(s)

• 

  Paul Rabe

  International Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS), Netherlands
• RP

  Rita Padawangi

  Singapore University of Social Sciences, Singapore
• AP

  Adrian Perkasa

  International Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS), Netherlands
• BN

  Boonanan Natakun

  Thammasat University, Thailand
• AN

  Anton Novenanto

  Universitas Brawijaya, Indonesia
• AR

  Amanda Reichelt-Brushett

  Southern Cross University, Australia
• AS

  Anuradha Sen Mookerjee

  Institute for Human Development, India
• DL

  Dang Ly Quoc

  Can Tho University, Vietnam
• MW

  Mohamed W. Fareed

  The American University in Cairo, Egypt
• SN

  Sankha Nath

  Independent Researcher, India
• XZ

  Xiaomei Zhao

  Fudan University, China
• XB

  Xavier Benedict

  AARDE Foundation, India
• HH

  Hayley Henderson

  Australian National University, Australia
• SM

  Siti Maimunah

  Sajogyo Institute, University of Mulawarman, Indonesia
• TP

  Teerapong Pomun

  Mekong Community Institute Association, Thailand
• TI

  Tan Miau Ing

  Universiti Malaya, Malaysia
• LV

  Lyno Vuth

  Independent Artist, Cambodia
• 

  Surajit Sarkar

  Kerala Museum, India
• HN

  Huiying Ng

  Rachel Carson Center for Environment and Society, Ludwig-Maximillians University, Germany
• AF

  Awang Firmansyah

  Surabaya State University, Indonesia
• IR

  Ikhsan Rosyid Mujahidul Anwari

  Universitas Airlangga, Indonesia
• PS

  Puspitaningtyas Sulistyowati

  Community Architects of East Java (Arkom Jatim), Indonesia
• TT

  Try Thuon

  Royal University of Phnom Penh, Cambodia
• YP

  Yuni Prihayati

  KALBU, Indonesia
• ND

  Nathalie Dagmang

  Department of Fine Arts
  Ateneo de Manila University
• NR

  Napong Rugkhapan
• KU

  Kiki Utomo
• 

  Tessa Maria Guazon

  University of the Philippines - Diliman, Philippines

Roundtable Abstract:

Why do we conduct community engagement in our academic life and as a basis for policymaking? The term ‘community engagement’ is widely used in academic and policymaking realms, but the conceptualization and the application of community engagement vary. Community-engagement generally refers to a spectrum of approaches and commitments and a range of applications that are relevant and sensitive to community well-being and that promote the active involvement of community groups and organizations in collaboration with researchers and planners.

Community engagement has attracted a range of criticisms, which include furthering power inequalities between researchers and research subjects; objectification of community groups; perpetuation of local social inequalities by relying on elites to provide access; and others. Amidst such criticisms, community-engaged research is facing continuous resistance, which might also accelerate more broad-based resistance towards this participatory approach. Therefore, community engagement requires deeper thinking and insights about both its conceptual and practical dimensions to enable it to be a meaningful approach. Essential questions for practitioners of community engagement are: Why do we conduct community engagement in research, teaching, and other aspects of academia, as well as in policymaking? What are the principles of community engagement? What are its effective methods?

 In this roundtable discussion, panelists will be asked to reflect on their own experiences in using community-engaged methods and how they learn these methods. Panelists will also reflect on the advantages and challenges of this approach, and what needs to be done for more meaningful community-engaged academic endeavors—both in research and policymaking—in the future.  

Panelists will include principal investigators from all Southeast Asia Neighborhoods Network (SEANNET) teams as well as principal investigators from selected River Cities Network (RCN) teams that are applying community engagement techniques in their RCN projects. There will be an open call for RCN panelists, which will be disseminated in late-2023.

Roundtable sponsored by: Southeast Asia Neighborhoods Network (SEANNET) and River Cities Network (RCN), IIAS