Guiding the Use of Critical Utopian Action Research for Service-Learning Practitioners: An Example From a Computer Science Service-Learning Project

This paper introduces Critical Utopian Action Research (CUAR) as an innovative methodology for enhancing collaboration and joint decision-making in service-learning contexts. Focusing on an Information Technology Service-Learning project in South Africa, the research demonstrates the effective implementation of CUAR through a Future-Creating Workshop. The study employed a sixphase workshop design, including Preparation, Introduction, Critical Appraisal, Utopian, Realization, and Follow-Up phases. Data were collected through audio recordings, participant artifacts, and researcher observations, with thematic analysis used for interpretation. A novel Future-Creating Workshop Workbook was developed to facilitate idea generation and data collection. Findings highlight CUAR’s potential to democratize expertise, empower marginalized voices, and bridge the gap between academic institutions and community partners. The methodology fostered stakeholder engagement, generated innovative solutions, and developed shared visions for project improvement. Challenges such as time constraints and the need for skilled facilitation were identified. This research contributes to the theoretical understanding of CUAR in service-learning contexts and provides practical guidance for practitioners seeking to implement collaborative and participatory methodologies. The paper concludes that CUAR has the potential to significantly enhance the impact and sustainability of service-learning initiatives and offers a robust framework for addressing methodological challenges in community-engaged research and practice.