Sustainability of collaborative networks in higher education research projects: why complexity? Why now?

ABSTRACT

This article outlines the potential of complexity theory as a framework for understanding collaborative project networks and their sustainability within cross-institutional funded projects, responding to funders’ interest in projects that deliver public value. Preliminary analysis from an educational project suggests that complexity thinking may be useful also in examining attributes of sustainable networks. The article argues for new measures that shed light on how and why (or why not) collaborative project networks achieve sustainability, removing the current reliance on conventional, linear management and evaluation approaches.

KEYWORDS:

• Sustainability
• collaborative project network
• complex systems
• complexity theory
• project management and evaluation

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Amanda Scott

Amanda Scott is a Farmer Groups Project Team Leader, Farm Cooperatives and Collaboration Pilot Programme, Southern Cross University (in Lismore, Australia). She was formerly the Project Manager for the educational project “It's part of my life: Engaging university and community to enhance science and mathematics education”. She is currently engaged in a doctoral programme examining project sustainability.

Geoff Woolcott

Geoff Woolcott is an Associate Professor of Mathematics and Science Education, School of Education, Southern Cross University (in Lismore, Australia). His research interests include undergraduate retention/attrition, impact and sustainability in collaborative networks, and STEM education.

Robyn Keast

Robyn Keast is a Professor in the School of Business and Tourism, Southern Cross University (in Bilinga, Australia). Her transdisciplinary research is primarily orientated towards networked arrangements and collaborative practice across a range of arenas and most recently research collaboration, impact and sustainability.

Daniel Chamberlain

Daniel Chamberlain is a Research Fellow in Social Network Analysis in Disease Prevention in the School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University (in Melbourne, Australia). His research interests include network analysis and analytical methods for examination of social and public policy in government and third-sector organizations. His work is transdisciplinary and he has research experience in criminology, humanities, business, education and health sciences.