Collaboration and community: Building strength in tertiary education

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Research and Development in Higher Education Vol. 31: Engaging Communities

July, 2008, 389 pages
Published by
Mark Barrow & Kathryn Sutherland
ISBN
0 908557 73 6
Abstract 

Our tertiary education sector incorporates institutions that vary greatly in their composition, purpose and approach. Although they operate in a competitive context government funding strategies, globalization and international competition have encouraged greater consideration of how the sector might work more effectively across institutions to increase national effectiveness and reduce costs. The changing emphasis offers some enticing views of possible ways in which national communities for learning, research and knowledge sharing might be cultivated. This presentation examines the potential for collaboration both within and beyond our institutions. It further explores the role of academic leaders, academic developers and higher education societies in promoting stronger collaboration across discipline and organizational boundaries. The presentation will promote some new perspectives on how we structure our professional work contexts and perspectives.

Keywords: academic development; higher education development; collaboration; academic leadership