An integrated academic community of practice model (ACoPM)

ABSTRACT

Academic communities of practice (ACoPs) are formed in collaboration with professionals from industry and the community with the aim of providing innovative solutions to real-world problems. There are no adequate frameworks and clear support structures for managing academic communities of practice (ACoP). The main aim of this paper is to develop an integrated ACoP model and elaborate on external and internal support structures to endow innovation through academic communities of practice. In the first stage of this study, a preliminary ACoP model was developed and deployed at an institution of higher education. The model was further elaborated in stage two of this study. The main elements of the model were discussed, highlighting external and internal support mechanisms. The key findings indicate the crucial role of the ACoP core group management and fundraising as well as overcoming multiple barriers to innovation.

KEYWORDS:

• Academic communities of practice
• innovation
• higher education
• interdisciplinarity
• barriers
• ACPN

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Maria Jakovljevic

Maria Jakovljevic is a research fellow at the Department of Science and Technology Education, College of Education, University of South Africa. Prof Maria Jakovljevic has been working in Higher Education as an academic staff member at different HEIs and three national and one international universities. She was promoted to a scientific adviser and currently she is performing a variety of academic duties, including international research collaboration and producing innovative work recognised within the national and international academic communities.

Adéle Da Veiga

Adéle da Veiga holds a PhD in Information Technology. She is employed in the School of Computing, College of Science, Engineering and Technology, University of South Africa since 2014. She has publications in national and international accredited journals and in proceedings of peer-reviewed conferences. Prior to her academic career, she was employed in the industry for 14 years where she specialised in information security governance, audit, risk management and privacy. She holds a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), a Certified Information Privacy Technologist (CIPT) certification and a Certified Ethics Officer certification.