The construction of university-community partnerships: entangled perspectives

Abstract

The development of meaningful partnerships with communities is a shared concern of many higher education institutions. However, the building of significant partnerships between universities and communities is still a complex task, which generates multiple tensions. Based on a qualitative study that examined the lived experiences of participants in an innovative university-community partnership in Israel, the article analyzes the concept of partnership from a social constructivist theoretical perspective. The study focused on four research areas: the experience of partnership; the perception of partnership; the barriers to partnership-building, and the impact of participation on participants. Findings challenge essentialist views of partnership and highlight the constructed and discursive nature of the concept. The article found several crucial factors to be acknowledged in the process of partnership management: role perspectives, group affiliation, institutional context, power relations, the organizational culture of the partnership, and the societal perceptions of social problems addressed by the partnership. It concludes with some recommendations for the management of more meaningful university-community partnerships.

Unidad de acción comprometida: una propuesta de solución ante el problema universitario del servicio a la sociedad

“…Strier (2011), entre otros, llama la atención sobre el peligro que surge en las relaciones universidad-comunidad, debido al peso abrumador de los discursos académicos y a los medios habitualmente desiguales, de tal forma que se adoptan rápidamente desequilibrios en las dinámicas de trabajo.…”

Developing the Synergy between University and Industry-based Nursing Courses: Lessons in Engagement

“…Lessons learnt from face-to-face encounters and self-completion evaluation similar to those described by Hart and Northmore [14] included: the valuing of culture; the importance of communication; the establishing of respectful relationships; and the impact of change. It is important to remember that the process for engagement is interactive requiring common goals and the creation of different solutions to problems and concerns [3].…”

“…Programs are designed and managed in partnership with communities, and are socially inclusive and globally and locally relevant. University and community alliances are a vibrant field of interest for higher education institutions [2,3].…”

<i>Siyazama</i> Entrepreneurial Development Project: Challenges of a Community-University Partnership within a Faculty of Theology

“…The call for relevance and accountability of higher educational institutions (HEIs) is in line with the global call for ethical practice in public-private partnerships in various contexts (Strier 2011;Backstrand 2008;Bloland 2005). Corporate social responsibility initiatives are examples of responses to this call for greater relevance.…”

“…According to Strier (2011), the building of significant partnerships between universities and communities will always be a complex task, which generates multiple tensions. The university partner often enters the partnership without full realisation of the challenges of its role.…”