Enhancing outcomes and reducing inhibitors to the engagement of students and staff in learning and teaching partnerships: implications for academic development

ABSTRACT

A growing body of literature on students as partners in learning and teaching offers evidence on which academic developers can draw when supporting, advocating for, or engaging in partnerships. We extend a previous systematic review of the partnership literature by presenting an analysis and discussion of the positive and negative outcomes of partnership, and the inhibitors to partnership. Implications include the importance of academic developers supporting: the relational processes of partnership; institutional or structural change to address resistance; and the potential of partnership to make institutions more equitable and empowering spaces.

KEYWORDS:

• Students as partners
• outcomes
• inhibitors
• student–staff partnerships
• academic development
• educational development

Acknowledgements

We acknowledge the work in the initial review of the literature by Sophia Abbot, Christine Black, Breagh Cheng, Gali Katznelson, Kris Knorr, Sabrina Kirby, Alex Lerczak, Mythili Nair, Rafaella Shammas, Kelly Swaim, and Jarred Turner.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Kelly E. Matthews

Kelly E. Matthews is an associate professor at The University of Queensland, Australia.

Lucy Mercer-Mapstone

Lucy Mercer-Mapstone is an Endeavour Research Fellow at the University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom.

Sam Lucie Dvorakova

Sam Lucie Dvorakova is a master’s student at the University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom.

Anita Acai

Anita Acai is a PhD candidate at McMaster University, Canada.

Alison Cook-Sather

Alison Cook-Sather is Mary Katharine Woodworth professor of education at Bryn Mawr College, United States of America.

Peter Felten

Peter Felten is executive director of the Center for Engaged Learning at Elon University, United States of America.

Mick Healey

Mick Healey is a higher education consultant and researcher, and an emeritus professor at the University of Gloucestershire, United Kingdom.

Ruth L. Healey

Ruth L. Healey is a higher education consultant and researcher, and associate professor at the University of Chester, United Kingdom.

Elizabeth Marquis

Elizabeth Marquis is an assistant professor at McMaster University, Canada