University community partnerships for climate change adaptation in Malawi: Exploring contributions, potential opportunities and challenges

Partnerships with local communities have emerged as a prominent educational strategy within university functions, aligning with the ethos of an institution dedicated to community engagement. These partnerships serve not only to empower communities with essential skills to address societal challenges, notably climate change, but also reflect a broader shift in academia towards fostering collaborative relationships with local stakeholders. For students, partnerships offer invaluable hands-on experience by immersing them in direct engagement with community members, bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application to enrich their educational learning outcomes. This article explores the multifaceted benefits and contributions of partnerships to sustainable community well-being while addressing the inherent complexities that arise when universities engage with communities in promoting human development. Drawing upon qualitative data obtained from interviews with lecturers, students, and community focus groups involved in climate adaptation initiatives, the study investigates the contributions and potential opportunities presented by partnerships and examines challenges encountered by stakeholders in advancing partnerships interventions. Despite the positive impact of partnerships on community skills and empowerment, I argue that while partnerships are contributing towards sustainable community well-being, coordination, funding, and mindset change remain key issues to be addressed. Further, educational practices and pedagogical approaches should prioritize addressing the multidimensionality of climate change and fostering agency and empowerment among community leaders to actively engage in partnership activities. This includes giving them a voice in the choice of adaptation interventions and inclusion of communities' voices in the monitoring and assessment of partnership interventions. By doing so, partnerships can be more effective in promoting sustainable community well-being and improving students' learning outcomes.