As partnerships between Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and communities have taken on increased importance, greater attention has been paid to how these partnerships are formed, the manner in which they operate, and what they can accomplish. Monitoring and evaluating these partnerships is necessary for accountability, transparency, and understanding their value.
HEI-community partnerships are an integral part of the ESRC as well as a strategic emphasis of Brock University. Monitoring and and evaluations of partnership is critical because it provides a basis for learning, adaptation and continuous improvement. Despite the importance of monitoring and evaluation to HEI-community partnerships, relatively little research and applied experiences exist. Members of the ESRC have correspondingly launched an initiative to advance knowledge and practice of formal HEI-community partnerships. This program of work, which includes three open access publications and one working paper (all linked below), offers important and timely advancements to HEI-community partnerships in the era of accountability, performance-based funding and change.
Assessing the Performance of Higher Education Institution (HEI)-Community Partnership
BY: RYAN PLUMMER, SAMANTHA WITKOWSKI, AMANDA SMITS AND GILLIAN DALE
As partnerships between Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and communities have taken on increased importance, greater attention has been paid to how these partnerships are formed, the manner in which they operate, and what they can accomplish. Assessing the performance of these partnerships is critical for accountability, transparency, and understanding their value. However, no performance assessment framework exists of HEI-community partnerships. In this paper we summarize scholarship on HEI-community partnerships and present a conceptual framework to assess their performance. The assessment framework provides a mechanism for continuous improvement. Practical considerations and future research directions conclude the paper.
The issue of performance in higher education institution – community partnerships: A Canadian perspective
BY: RYAN PLUMMER, SAMANTHA WITKOWSKI, AMANDA SMITS AND GILLIAN DALE
In this study we seek to discern the situation of higher education institution-community partnerships and examine accountability for performance in Canada, thereby advancing understanding about this international phenomenon. A search of Canadian higher education institutions was carried out to identify those with an explicit mandate relating to community relationships and an initial questionnaire was distributed to their offices. Results afford insights into the present state of higher education institution-community partnerships in Canada and coincide with experiences in other countries.
Higher Education Institution–Community Partnerships: Measuring the Performance of Sustainability Science Initiatives
BY: RYAN PLUMMER, SAMANTHA WITKOWSKI, AMANDA SMITS AND GILLIAN DALE
In this paper, we aim to establish an instrument for assessing the performance of sustainability science initiatives in HEIs. To do this, we examined the performance of three HEI–community partnerships for sustainability science in Ontario, Canada (the Brock-Lincoln Living Lab, the Excellence in Environmental Stewardship Initiative, and Niagara Adapts) utilizing the HEI–Community Partnership Performance Index (HCPPI). Our preliminary results suggest that the HCPPI is a reliable, valid, and easy-to-administer tool for accurately assessing the performance of HEI–community partnerships for sustainability science. Implementing assessments when working in a HEI-community partnership promotes accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement. Performance assessment of HEI-community partnerships also serves as a vital feedback mechanism by fostering reflection, adaptation, and learning, all of which are critical components to sustainability science.
Appraising HEI-community Partnerships: Assessing Performance, Monitoring Progress, and Evaluating Impacts
BY: RYAN PLUMMER, SAMANTHA WITKOWSKI, AMANDA SMITS AND GILLIAN DALE
Partnership between higher education institutions (HEIs) and communities continue to grow and develop with the recognition of their significance. However, the question of how to judge their value continues to garner increased attention. In this perspective article, we develop a framework for comprehensively appraising HEI-community partnerships. Parts of this framework are then unpacked and the overall application of the framework is discussed. This framework provides a way to document and evaluate the partnerships between HEIs and communities and contributes to continuous improvement and learning.
