Evaluating a university public engagement model through outreach projects: Professors' involvement and measurement implications

The contribution of universities to society has been widely discussed; however, further exploration is needed regarding faculty engagement in this contribution and how such engagement can be measured. This study aims to empirically test a developed instrument and assess the fit of a model that examines professors' involvement in outreach projects as a means of contributing to the measurement of university public engagement. To this end, unlike previous studies, which mainly focus on the institutional perspective of university public engagement, this study centres on professors as its focal point. A Confirmatory Factor Analysis was conducted to assess the proposed model's validity. Data were analysed to evaluate the perceptions of professors involved in outreach projects from federal universities and federal institutes in Brazil. The results indicate that the Confirmatory Factor Analysis successfully validated the instrument (scale) developed and the model to measure university public engagement trough outreach projects professors' involvement. This study contributes to future research and practice by enhancing our understanding of professors' involvement in publicly engaged universities and its broader societal impact, offering a validated model for its measurement. In doing so, these findings offer new insights for university management and policymaking by systematically measuring professor-driven public engagement.