Incorporate structured reflective exercises on equality, reciprocity, positionality and bias into any (I)CEL exercise for staff and students¶

Strategy · All strategies
Evidence · no claims cited

Description¶

The article recommends that "reflective exercises are incorporated into any (I)CEL exercise among both staff and students, including with a specific focus on equality and reciprocity". Structured reflection using Gibbs's reflective cycle makes the individual elements of equality and reciprocity explicit, helps identify gaps and opportunities, and addressing personal biases, positionalities and assumptions openly provides depth and nuance in critical engagement. The authors also advise considering all elements of CEL together as a holistic whole to manage each ICEL project.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Structured reflective exercises (e.g., using Gibbs's reflective cycle) for all participants, including both staff and students
• Personal biases and positionality defined at the start of the process and considered throughout the ICEL project

Constraints¶

Target Learners¶

• Staff and students participating in local or international community-engaged learning

Target Learning Goals¶

• Promoting equality and reciprocity in ICEL partnerships and critical engagement with positionality and bias

Affordances¶

• Lightbody Equality Framework Cel

Related Strategies¶

Examples¶

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Key Sources¶

• Vijge, M. J., Gallagher, S. E., Byrne, J. R., Tschersich, J., Tager, J., Madhavan, U. B., Boshoff, H., & Triyanti, A. (2025). Community-Engaged Learning in a European Universities Alliance: Reflections on Equality and Reciprocity Across Europe and Africa. Journal of Higher Education Outreach and Engagement, 29(2). https://openjournals.libs.uga.edu/jheoe