Welcome to the third volume of Gateways: International Journal of Community Research and Engagement, a joint initiative of the Shopfront at the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS), and the Center for Urban Research and Learning (CURL) at Loyola University, Chicago. This volume demonstrates the rich diversity of the work being undertaken in the area of community engagement as well as the ongoing reflection that accompanies such work. Included are articles that examine the challenges and opportunities of methodological practices such as participatory action research (PAR), while others explore the complex nature of engaged work ‘at the coalface’. Questions are raised about the various players in community-university engagement; in particular a number of articles examine the role of universities as ‘agents of change’ or intermediaries, capable of harnessing partnerships and public participation for positive action. Also explored are issues around the compatibility of learning from community-engagement versus traditional educational approaches in tertiary institutions.