prof michael cuthill- university/community engagement in australia
DESCRIPTION
Community-based research in Australian universities: Reflections on national policy, institutional strategy and research practice. Community-based research (CBR) is one important expression of university community engagement. It draws together the public good mission of the university with a scholarly intent. This presentation will provide a brief outline of the current policy, institutional and practice settings for CBR in Australia. The main focus will describe the underlying values, methodologies and methods employed by researchers in this area, and how genuine relationships between universities and communities can be fostered through CBRTRANSCRIPT
Professor Michael CuthillChair, Regional Community Development
University of Southern [email protected]
UNIVERSITY ‘COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT’IN AUSTRALIA
University community engagement:
Intro to CENational policy
Institutional responsesPractice
University community engagement:
Intro to CENational policy
Institutional responsesPractice
Community engagement:
WHY?
Community engagement:
WHY?
The role of the university?
The ivory tower expertsor
Co-producers of knowledge
The role of the university?
The ivory tower expertsor
Co-producers of knowledge
Dominant paradigm: An ‘expert’ approach to scholarship
… detached experts … define problems … dispassionate ways…
conceptual/methodological… academic disciplines … people are subjects … using value free
methods… reliable findings
Dominant paradigm: An ‘expert’ approach to scholarship
… detached experts … define problems … dispassionate ways…
conceptual/methodological… academic disciplines … people are subjects … using value free
methods… reliable findings
A new paradigm for ‘engaged scholarship’
… action and reflection … theory and practice… participation with others… practical solutions … mutual benefits… well-being
A new paradigm for ‘engaged scholarship’
… action and reflection … theory and practice… participation with others… practical solutions … mutual benefits… well-being
… informed engagement of citizens and civil
society on research and innovation matters…
(European Union)
… informed engagement of citizens and civil
society on research and innovation matters…
(European Union)
‘Working together’
Analogy of migratory geese
‘Working together’
Analogy of migratory geese
What’s in a name?
‘science and society’‘community engagement’
‘engaged scholarship’‘knowledge exchange’
‘service learning’…
What’s in a name?
‘science and society’‘community engagement’
‘engaged scholarship’‘knowledge exchange’
‘service learning’…
Four key elements … A focus on:
High quality scholarshipStakeholder collaborationMutually beneficial
outcomesPublic good intent
Four key elements … A focus on:
High quality scholarshipStakeholder collaborationMutually beneficial
outcomesPublic good intent
The challenge in implementing a new paradigm …
The challenge in implementing a new paradigm …
National policy
Universityresponses
Practice
National policy
Universityresponses
Practice
A solid policy foundation?
… how science and society engage in
collaborative knowledge processes in Australia
A solid policy foundation?
… how science and society engage in
collaborative knowledge processes in Australia
Institutional requirements:
Senior leadershipClarity of
conceptualisationInstitutionalisationQuality assuranceCapacity building
programmesRewards and recognitionFunding streams
Institutional requirements:
Senior leadershipClarity of
conceptualisationInstitutionalisationQuality assuranceCapacity building
programmesRewards and recognitionFunding streams
Simon Fraser University has committed to a CE approach….
… that informs every aspect of how a university operates, educates and
serves its students and its communities
… not as an exercise in altruism, but in the belief that this engagement also
pays enormous dividends for students, faculty and staff – and for the
university itself.
Simon Fraser University has committed to a CE approach….
… that informs every aspect of how a university operates, educates and
serves its students and its communities
… not as an exercise in altruism, but in the belief that this engagement also
pays enormous dividends for students, faculty and staff – and for the
university itself.
Can academics and external stakeholders, all with
diverse timeframes, skill sets and deliverables, just
come together and effectively collaborate?
Can academics and external stakeholders, all with
diverse timeframes, skill sets and deliverables, just
come together and effectively collaborate?
In practice:
We see a lack of skills …project management collaboration
and limited motivation
In practice:
We see a lack of skills …project management collaboration
and limited motivation
Priorities and constraints
Research producers
Research users
Knowledge Depth Breadth
Documents Long, prose Short, multiple headings, dot points
Timeframes Medium–long Short–medium
Outputs Few and far between
Regular
Responsibility
Individuals and freedom
External parties and processes
Rigor versus pragmatism
Rigor Pragmatism
Authorship Personal Usually anonymous
Working together
The Pacific Island community and the UQ
Boilerhouse
Working together
The Pacific Island community and the UQ
Boilerhouse
References:Cuthill, O’Shea, Viljoen & Wilson, 2014 ‘Universities and the public good: A review of Knowledge Exchange policy and related university practice in Australia’ Australian Universities’ Review (accepted).Cuthill, M. 2014 ‘Community-based research in Australian universities: Reflections on national policy, institutional strategy and research practice’ in Munck, R. McIlrath, L. & Hall, B. (eds) Community Based Research: International Perspectives Palgrave Macmillan, New York (in print).Cuthill, M. 2014 ‘The nexus between knowledge, engagement and higher education in Australia: Responding to the complex challenges of our time’ in Global University Network for Innovation Higher Education in the World 5 Palgrave & Global University Network for Innovation, Basingstoke, pp.207-210.Cuthill, M. 2012 ‘A civic mission for the university: Engaged scholarship and community based participatory research’ pp.81-100 in McIlrath, L. Lyons, A. & Munck, R. (Eds.) Higher Education and Civic Engagement: Comparative Perspectives Palgrave Macmillan, New York.Cuthill, M. 2011 ‘Embedding engagement in an Australian ‘sandstone’ university: From community service to university engagement’ Metropolitan Universities 22:2, pp.21-44.Cuthill, M. & Brown, A. 2010 ‘Sceptics, Utilitarians and Missionaries: Senior managers perceptions of engagement in an Australian Research University’ The Australasian Journal of University-Community Engagement 5:2, pp.126-146.Cuthill, M. 2010 ‘Working together: A methodological case study of engaged scholarship’ Gateways: International Journal of Community Research and Engagement 3, pp.20–37.Scull, S. & Cuthill, M. 2010 ‘Engaged outreach: Using community engagement to facilitate access to higher education for people from low socio-economic backgrounds’ Higher Education Research and Development 29:1, pp.59-74.Cuthill, M. 2008 ‘A quality framework for university engagement in Australia’ International Journal for Public Participation 2:2, pp.22-41.
References:Cuthill, O’Shea, Viljoen & Wilson, 2014 ‘Universities and the public good: A review of Knowledge Exchange policy and related university practice in Australia’ Australian Universities’ Review (accepted).Cuthill, M. 2014 ‘Community-based research in Australian universities: Reflections on national policy, institutional strategy and research practice’ in Munck, R. McIlrath, L. & Hall, B. (eds) Community Based Research: International Perspectives Palgrave Macmillan, New York (in print).Cuthill, M. 2014 ‘The nexus between knowledge, engagement and higher education in Australia: Responding to the complex challenges of our time’ in Global University Network for Innovation Higher Education in the World 5 Palgrave & Global University Network for Innovation, Basingstoke, pp.207-210.Cuthill, M. 2012 ‘A civic mission for the university: Engaged scholarship and community based participatory research’ pp.81-100 in McIlrath, L. Lyons, A. & Munck, R. (Eds.) Higher Education and Civic Engagement: Comparative Perspectives Palgrave Macmillan, New York.Cuthill, M. 2011 ‘Embedding engagement in an Australian ‘sandstone’ university: From community service to university engagement’ Metropolitan Universities 22:2, pp.21-44.Cuthill, M. & Brown, A. 2010 ‘Sceptics, Utilitarians and Missionaries: Senior managers perceptions of engagement in an Australian Research University’ The Australasian Journal of University-Community Engagement 5:2, pp.126-146.Cuthill, M. 2010 ‘Working together: A methodological case study of engaged scholarship’ Gateways: International Journal of Community Research and Engagement 3, pp.20–37.Scull, S. & Cuthill, M. 2010 ‘Engaged outreach: Using community engagement to facilitate access to higher education for people from low socio-economic backgrounds’ Higher Education Research and Development 29:1, pp.59-74.Cuthill, M. 2008 ‘A quality framework for university engagement in Australia’ International Journal for Public Participation 2:2, pp.22-41.
Professor Michael CuthillChair, Regional Community Development
University of Southern Queensland
UNIVERSITY ‘COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT’IN AUSTRALIA