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Experiential Learning Policy; Entrepreneurship Education Policy;Grants Management Policy; Research Integrity Policy;UM6P SD best practices guide, SD Institutional Policy. 

Community engagement is central to Mohammed VI Polytechnic University. Our strategy for community engagement guides this policy and seeks to develop mutually beneficially sustainable collaborations with communities across the local, national, regional, continental, and international levels. The outcome of our community engagement strategy is to contribute to making positive and everlasting impact in all communities; internal and external. In this light, UM6P commits to ensuring that community engagement activities contribute to beneficial and sustainable impact for communities.
SECTION 1 POLICY STATEMENT
1.1. The University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P) recognizes the importance of fostering collaborations with local, national, regional, continental and global communities.
1.2.UM6P establishes partnerships with community organizations, government agencies, industry partners, non-profits, and other stakeholders to identify shared goals and co-create solutions.
1.3.UM6P creates a cross-engagement between its internal communities and foster a spirit of mutual support and loyalty where all community members feel valued and motivated to contribute to the university’s success.
1.4.The commitment to community engagement at UM6P is grounded through education, research and innovation.

1.5.UM6P encourages its internal community to build partnerships while conducting teaching and learning activities to address sustainable challenges.
1.6. Community engagement at UM6P is an integral part of the university’s responsibility to contribute positively to the local, national and global communities it serves. It embodies the university’s dedication to fostering positive impacts through the establishment of enduring partnerships achieved via active interactions.

SECTION 2 SCOPE AND APPLICABILITY
2.1. This policy applies to all UM6P community members, including faculty, staff, and students. In addition, the policy applies to individuals whom the university contracts to do work on its behalf, including consultants, vendors, and contractors.

SECTION 3 PURPOSE
3.1. This policy is designed to foster UM6P’s civic, industrial, governmental, and social engagement activities.
3.2. This policy aims to clearly define community engagement to ensure a shared and clear understanding across the UM6P community and serve as a reference for making decisions related to community engagement activities.
3.3. This policy is designed to foster UM6P’s civic, industrial, governmental, and social engagement activities. By promoting responsible partnerships, UM6P aims to drive positive socio-economic and environmental impact.
3.4. This policy showcases UM6P’s dedication to collaborative initiatives and responsible practices in its aim to enhance community well-being and stimulate innovation.

SECTION 4 DEFINITIONS
4.1. Community engagement: Community engagement is the collection of processes and activities performed by students and staff in partnership with community stakeholders to address mutual concerns, promote shared goals, and enhance the well-being of both. It involves employing the internal knowledge capital and resources to benefit the larger community while fostering reciprocal learning and sustainable development.

4.2. Lifelong Learning: Lifelong learning is the concept of pursuing additional education and the development of further skills beyond an individual’s formal education. Lifelong learning is self-motivated, informal, voluntary and based on personal interests.
4.3. Staff and faculty: All employees (full and part time) of the university including but not limited to lecturers, heads of departments, any other staff involved directly or indirectly in research or related activities including technical, clerical, clinical and administrative staff.
4.4. Students: those individuals enrolled or participating in an academic program within UM6P.
4.5. Visitor and Third parties: refer to individuals who are not part of the university’s regular student or staff community but may enter the university premises for various purposes. Third parties typically refer to organizations or individuals who are not directly affiliated with the university but may have interactions or partnerships with the university. This can include external service providers (contractors), volunteers, researchers, or any entity that collaborates with the university in some capacity.

SECTION 5 PROVISIONS AND GUIDELINES
General Provisions
5.1. Opportunities to engage with the external community are integrated with the core business activities of the university.
5.2. Community engagement upholds the UM6P’s commitment to the following principles:
5.2.1. Inclusivity: UM6P engages with all segments of society, including individuals, organizations, and institutions, regardless of background, identity, or affiliation.
5.2.2. Reciprocity: UM6P creates relationships based on mutual respect, trust, and shared benefits, where both our university and the communities we engage with contribute to and gain from the partnership.
5.2.3. Responsibility: UM6P addressessocietal challenges, promote social justice, and contribute to the public good.

5.2.4. Transparency: UM6P is committed to open communication, honesty, and accountability in all our interactions with community partners.
5.2.5. Sustainability: UM6P adopts a holistic approach aimed at balancing present needs with future aspirations across environmental, social and economic dimensions, promoted and achieved through cultivating enduring relationships and fostering positive impacts within communities.
5.3. The Corporate Communication, Sustainable Development Department, Social Innovation Lab, Social Experience Program, Student Affairs and other departments, regularly report on the university’s community engagement activities, outcomes, and impacts within their respective domains. This commitment ensures transparency and accountability to both internal and external stakeholders.
5.4. UM6P allocates financial, human, and other resources to support community engagement activities, including dedicated staff, funding opportunities, and infrastructure.
5.5. The Corporate Communication regularly reports on the university’s community engagement activities, outcomes, and impact to internal and external stakeholders,
ensuring transparency and accountability.

Teaching & Learning engagement
5.6. UM6P integrates community-based education and learning into its academic programs, providing students with opportunities to apply their knowledge and skills to address local, national and international challenges.
5.7. UM6P enriches the learning experiences of students by providing opportunities for community-based learning, service-learning, internships, and research projects that address real-world issues.
5.8. UM6P is committed to offering educational programs designed to meet the unique needs and interests of the local work world. Curriculums are adapted to align with emerging trends and demands, ensuring our graduates are equipped with the skills and knowledge required to excel in their chosen fields.

5.9. UM6P implements a co-curricular learning program that involves partnering studentorganizations with local and national organizations to provide real-world experiences, integrating service learning into the curriculum, and fostering reflection. The aim is to enhance student learning, promote civic responsibility, and strengthen community ties.
5.10. UM6P ensures accessible executive programs, workshops, and seminars on relevant subjects, fostering professional development and lifelong learning.
5.11. UM6P strives to democratize education through the development and distribution of online learning resources accessible to all community members, regardless of location or time.
5.12. UM6P offers language programs for its internal community to develop language skills and improve communication skills among its members.

Research & Innovation engagement
5.13. UM6P is committed to ensuring that all research projects are conducted with the highest ethical standards (see Research Integrity Policy). All researchers are responsible for their actions and the results of their research.
5.14. UM6P is committed to conducting research that is both useful and impactful for the community. Researchers must demonstrate how their projects will directly benefit the community.
5.15. UM6P prioritizes the practical translation of theoretical research into actions that address real-world problems. Researchers are encouraged to implement their research findings.
5.16. UM6P is committed to the ethical use of animals in research, with an emphasis on humane treatment and transparency (see Animal Use and Care Policy).
5.17. UM6P encourages research on issues related to environmental, social and economicchallenges, and promotes research practices inspired by the principles of sustainable development policy (see Sustainable Development Policy).
Economic engagement

5.13. UM6P is committed to supporting local economic development by fostering entrepreneurship, supporting small businesses, and promoting workforce development initiatives that create opportunities for community members.
5.14. UM6P enables the development of solutions to industrial problems by facilitating the active involvement of its academic community in the commercialization process, whether this results in the creation of a start-up or a licensing agreement (see Start Up Policy/ Start Up & Licensing Act).
Sustainability engagement
5.15. UM6P’s approach to sustainable development relies on community members actively engaging in understanding the challenges related to our environment and quality of life in order to promote lasting positive impact (see Sustainable Development Policy).
5.16. UM6P is dedicated to sustainability through the integration of eco-friendly practices into campus operations, research, and teaching (see UM6P SD best practices guide).
5.17. UM6P incorporates sustainability principles into its procurement policies and gives priority to goods and services that are ecologically friendly (see eco-friendly purchasing Policy).
5.16. UM6P promotes a culture of sustainability, by planning university-wide activities, public events, workshops, and campaigns that inform and motivate community members to adopt sustainable behaviors.
5.17. UM6P promotes sustainability by planning university-wide activities, public events, workshops, and campaigns that inform and motivate community members to adopt sustainable behaviors. This also serves to stimulate the sharing of expertise on regional, national, and international levels, and to contribute to innovative initiatives in the field of sustainable development (see Sustainable Development Policy).

Community Engagement Guidelines
5.18. Community engagement upholds UM6P’s commitment to the following principles:

5.18.1. All community engagement activities should start with a thorough understanding of the local context, including cultural, social, and economic aspects.
5.18.2. Establish and maintain authentic, respectful relationships with community members and stakeholders.
5.18.3. Engage in regular communication to ensure mutual understanding and shared goals.
5.18.4. Work collaboratively with local organizations, government entities, non-profits, and other stakeholders to co-create solutions that address community needs.
5.18.5. Regularly assess and reflect on the impact of engagement activities.
5.18.6. Seek feedback from community partners and adjust strategies as needed to ensure positive and meaningful outcomes.
5.18.7. Strive for sustainable, long-term engagement rather than short-term, transactional interactions. Invest in building capacity and resilience within the community.
5.18.8. Adhere to the highest ethical standards in all community engagement activities, ensuring transparency, accountability, and respect for all parties involved.