Partnership between Higher Education and Working Life - Benefits of Change Agents' Actions

Author(s):

Arja Häggman-Laitila(presenting / submitting)Leena Rekola(presenting)

Conference:

ECER 2012

Network:

15. Research Partnerships in Education

Format:

Paper

Session Information

15 SES 02, Partnership with Working Life I

Parallel Paper Session

Time:

2012-09-18

15:15-16:45

Room:

FCT - Aula 14

Chair:

Contribution

The partnership of working life and higher education has been depicted for decades in international literature. Research information covering the topic is still limited, and the research is considered challenging. There is no co-ordinated definition for partnership, nor have any widely tested work models been compiled to ensure its development. Partnerships between higher education and working life are often based on single cases; they are irregular and rely on personal relationships for the most part. Working life and higher education have two separate knowledge and competence pools, which do not meet and which are not systematically developed and shared. In future recruitment, expert exchange, renewing division of labour and transferring competence from senior staff members to younger ones all requisite new forms of cooperation transcending boundaries for higher education and working life. The current educational structures and partnership processes do not support this development sufficiently. Previous research has focused on experiences of common tenures and clinical teaching.

Method

The purpose of the ESR-funded Collaborative Intensity project (2009-2011) was to develop partnership between higher education and working life. The project was implemented as a multidisciplinary collaboration between the hospital of the City of Espoo and Metropolia University of Applied Sciences. Almost 70 persons transcending boundaries were recruited from both implementing organisations: project managers, project workers, developing teachers and developers from the work environment. They worked as change agents to develop partnership actions on tactical and operational levels of organisations. The aim was to produce new innovative structures and processes to advance the collective recognition, the use and development of know how between different organisations. This study is a part of action research of the project. Research questions are: What are the duties of change agents transcending boundaries? What kind of competencies they need? Which factors promote and prevent partnership? What are the benefits of partnership? 39 persons took part in the study. Data was gathered by means of focus group interviews, self and peer reviews and diaries and it was analysed by qualitative content analysis.

Expected Outcomes

Main duties of change agents were sharing expertise and knowledge of own organisations, planning and implementing partnership, coordinating and implementing of change, coordinating student supervision and teaching. Competencies of change agents were expertise on own substance and an ability to recognize and share it, knowledge of own organisation and its processes and missions, familiarity with development work and negotiation, communication and networking skills. Factors promoting partnership were sharing power and responsibilities as well as creating a clear leadership structure, common understanding and language. Gaining mutual benefit and trust were also considered important. Several benefits of partnership were described. For example, the development of expertise manifested itself in increased knowledge, learning, deepened understanding and a more holistic thinking. The partnership enabled the development of clinical practices in patient care and follow-up of care. Partnership also supported the continuity and establishment of previously initiated projects. Moreover, the image of the hospital improved. In addition to this, follow-up and its learning process in the introduction of new practices was emphasised. Partnership also enabled the application of latest research knowledge and its utilisation. The study produces new knowledge of the actions transcending boundaries and benefits of partnership.

References

Boland M., G., Kamikawa C., Inouye J., Latimer R., W., & Marshall S. (2010) Partnership to Build Research Capacity. Nursing Economics 28 (5), 314-336. Boyer, K., Orpin, P. & Walker, J. (2010) Partner or perish: experiences from the field about collaborations for reform. Australian Journal of Primary Health 16, 104-107. Corbin, J. H. & Mittelmark, M. B. (2008) Partnership lessions from the Global Programme for Health Promotion Effectiveness: a case study. Health Promotion International 23 (4), 365-371. Casey M. (2008) Partnership – success factors of interorganizational relationships. Journal of Nursing Management 16, 72-83. De Geest S., Rich V., & Spring, R. (2010) Developing a Financial Framework for Academic Service Partnerships: Models of the United States and Europe. Journal of Nursing Scholarship 42 (3), 295-304. Kerosuo H & Engeström Y. (2003) Boundary crossing and learning in creation of new work practice. Journal of Workplace Learning 7/8, 345-351. MacPhee M. (2009) Developing a practice-academic partnership logic model. Nursing Outlook 57, 143-147. Missal, B., Schafer, B. K., Halm, M. A. & Schaffer, M. A. (2010) A University and Health Care Organization Partnership to Prepare Nurses for Evidence-Based Pratice. Journal of Nursing Education 49 (8), 456-461. Weiss E., S., Taber S., K., Breslau E., S., Lillie S., E., & Li, Y. (2010) The Role of Leadership and Management in Six Southern Public Health Partnerships: A Study of Member Involvement and Satisfaction. Health Education & Behavior 37 (5), 737-752. Xyrichis A. & Lowton K. (2008) What fosters or prevents interprofessional teamworking in primary and community care? A literature review. International Journal of Nursing Studies 45, 140-153.

Author Information

Arja Häggman-Laitila (presenting / submitting)

Metropolia University of Applied Sciences

Nursing and health care

Helsinki

Leena Rekola (presenting)

Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, Finland

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