Assessing the Social and Business Impacts of Community Engagement: a Case Study of the College of Business and Economics at Addis Ababa University
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Date
2026-06-03
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Universities worldwide are shifting from isolated institutions to engaged ones through community engagement. In Africa, this transformation supports local development. Ethiopia has adopted policies including the Higher Education Proclamation No. 1152/2019. Addis Ababa University's College of Business and Economics provides consultancy and training to address local business challenges. This research assesses the business and social impacts of community engagement at the College of Business and Economics, Addis Ababa University, with primary emphasis on business impact. The study employed a convergent parallel mixed-methods design combining qualitative and quantitative approaches. The target population consisted of final-year undergraduate students and academic staff from five departments: Management, Economics, Accounting and Finance, Marketing Management, and Business Administration and Information Systems. Using the Yamane formula, a sample of 327 students and staff was selected through simple random sampling. Additionally, 80 local business owners were surveyed quantitatively. Also, 25 key informants including department heads, community engagement coordinators, and community residents participated in semi-structured interviews. The research revealed that partnership quality was the strongest predictor of both business impact and social impact, indicating that trust-based collaborations produce the most substantial results. Community involvement and awareness and outreach were significant predictors of positive outcomes. Businesses receiving support experienced substantial growth in revenue, profit, employment, financial management, and credit access. The community reported strengthened social networks and improved wellbeing. Qualitative themes confirmed that trust, open dialogue, tailored support, and follow-up are essential for successful engagement
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Community Engagement, Social Impact, Business Impact, Addis Ababa University, Partnership Quality, Higher Education, MSME Developmentreported