From Service to Empowerment

Redesigning University Community Engagement through Participatory Action Research

Abstract

This article explores the transformation of university community service into an empowerment-oriented engagement model through Participatory Action Research (PAR). Conducted by a university in partnership with a rural farming community, the initiative focused on agroecology, market access, and youth skill development. By co-defining problems, co-designing solutions, and jointly evaluating outcomes, both university actors and community members experienced mutual learning. The project yielded increased community capacity, research relevance, and student civic responsibility. The study concludes that PAR can redefine the role of higher education institutions from service providers to co-agents of social change, fostering long-term impact beyond outreach.