EPIC engagements for science policy integration in southern Africa

This contribution presents engaged scholarship as a practical approach to translating knowledge into action, impact, and sustainable solutions for cities. It demonstrates how innovation and technology, community and local government engagements, and at the same time working with students can be intentionally integrated to address complex societal challenges within a transdisciplinary framework. Therefore, the contribution leans on the Educational Partnerships for Innovation in Communities (EPIC) model, which fosters Innovation and technology, community engagement, and sustainability. A major consideration herein as espoused by the EPIC concept is the multiple forms of knowledge, including academic research, local government decision making and student-generated insights, and community-based knowledge, to co-create contextually relevant and actionable solutions. This is based on the understanding that through structured community engagements, knowledge is jointly produced, tested, and refined, ensuring that interventions respond to real needs while strengthening local ownership and sustainability. In EPIC, students are actively involved as co-researchers and innovators, gaining experiential learning opportunities while contributing to problem-solving processes that extend beyond the classroom. By adopting a transdisciplinary approach, the contribution moves beyond disciplinary silos to integrate perspectives from education, technology, social sciences, and community practice. The contribution explicitly demonstrates pathways through which knowledge informs action, action generates measurable impact, and inclusive and adaptive solutions ultimately sustain this impact. This illustrates how engaged scholarship can strengthen institutional relevance, build student capacity, and support communities in achieving long-term, sustainable outcomes.