Towards a model of university-aided technologically driven community development

Over the past couple of decades, African universities have been considered to possess the capacity needed to enhance the development of the continent and its residential communities. In spite of this consideration, Africa as a continent still lags behind the rest of the world in terms of the quality of its institutions and its ability to meet the needs of ordinary people who desire a better social life. Given this context, this article calls for a re-assessment of African universities' attempts to address the need for community development. It proceeds from the concept of engagement to highlight the relevance of a university's technological competence to community development. Drawing on a single interpretive case study, this article argues that African universities can deploy their technological competence and resources within the framework of civic responsibility but also reciprocity to address a wide range of community concerns affecting the livelihood of the citizenry. The analysis of data collected from a bounded system in Cameroon suggests that by widening participation to identify or construct, diffuse and apply relevant technologies for community development, African universities can improve the capacities of community residents, stimulate growth in agricultural yields, foster sustainability and competitiveness of economic activities and improve the living condition of ordinary people.