Van Schalkwyk, FrancesErasmus, Mabel2016-06-132016-06-132011Van Schalkwyk, F., & Erasmus, M. (2011). Community participation in higher education service learning. Acta Academica, 43(3), 57-82.0587-2405 (print)2415-0479 (online)http://hdl.handle.net/11660/2810English: As a point of entry to local communities the curricular form of community engagement referred to as “service learning” has gained prominence in South African higher education institutions over the past decade. Thus far research on service learning has mostly been conducted to gauge student development and learning outcomes, while outcomes for community participants have received less attention. This article reports on research into the outcomes of a specific service learning module by involving community members as research participants. Suggestions are made for ensuring that participants from local communities play a more active role in their own empowerment through transformative service learning interactions with university students, lecturers and other participants.Afrikaans: Die kurrikulêre vorm van gemeenskapsbetrokkenheid waarna verwys word as diensleer het gedurende die afgelope dekade veld gewen in Suid-Afrikaanse hoëronderwysinstellings as ’n toegangspoort tot plaaslike gemeenskappe. Tot dusver is navorsing oor diensleer meestal onderneem om studente-ontwikkeling en -uitkomste te bepaal terwyl uitkomste vir deelnemers uit die gemeenskap minder aandag ontvang het. Navorsing is onderneem om die uitkomste van ’n spesifieke diensleermodule te ondersoek deur gemeenskapslede as deelnemers in die navorsing te betrek. Voorstelle word gemaak om te verseker dat deelnemers uit plaaslike gemeenskappe ’n meer aktiewe rol speel in hul eie bemagtiging deur transformatiewe diensleerinteraksie met universiteitstudente, dosente en ander deelnemers.enService learningCommunity serviceHigher education in South AfricaArticleUniversity of the Free State