For centuries, the university has been a central institution for knowledge production, dissemination, and preservation. However, in the face of accelerating global challenges—climate change, digital disruption, inequality, and the need for sustainability—the traditional model of the university as an “ivory tower” is being questioned. Increasingly, scholars call for a transformation from university to commuversity (Hall & Tandon, 2020; UNESCO, 2022).

The commuversity is a paradigm where universities move beyond their academic boundaries and embrace a community-embedded role. Instead of producing knowledge for society, they co-create knowledge with society. This shift embodies the principles of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), where learning is participatory, interdisciplinary, and action-oriented (UNESCO, 2020).

A commuversity:

·       Engages citizens, businesses, policymakers, and civil society in collaborative problem-solving.

·       Is responsive to pressing local and global issues such as food security, renewable energy, and social justice.

·       Serves as a transformative hub, fostering innovation that is both academically rigorous and socially relevant.

As Hall and Tandon (2020) argue, universities must move from being elite spaces to becoming “knowledge democracies,” where diverse forms of knowledge—including indigenous, experiential, and community-based knowledge, are valued. In this light, the commuversity is not just an institution of higher learning, but a catalyst for societal transformation and sustainability.

References

·       Hall, B. L., & Tandon, R. (2020). Knowledge Democracy and Engagement: Universities and Societal Transformation. Palgrave Macmillan.

·       UNESCO (2020). Education for Sustainable Development: A Roadmap. Paris: UNESCO.

·       UNESCO (2022). Reimagining our futures together: A new social contract for education.