prof michael cuthill- university/community engagement in australia

Professor Michael CuthillChair, Regional Community Development

University of Southern Queenslandmichael.cuthill@usq.edu.au

UNIVERSITY ‘COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT’IN AUSTRALIA

University community engagement:

Intro to CENational policy

Institutional responsesPractice

University community engagement:

Intro to CENational policy

Institutional responsesPractice

Community engagement:

WHY?

Community engagement:

WHY?

The role of the university?

The ivory tower expertsor

Co-producers of knowledge

The role of the university?

The ivory tower expertsor

Co-producers of knowledge

Dominant paradigm: An ‘expert’ approach to scholarship

… detached experts … define problems … dispassionate ways…

conceptual/methodological… academic disciplines … people are subjects … using value free

methods… reliable findings

Dominant paradigm: An ‘expert’ approach to scholarship

… detached experts … define problems … dispassionate ways…

conceptual/methodological… academic disciplines … people are subjects … using value free

methods… reliable findings

A new paradigm for ‘engaged scholarship’

… action and reflection … theory and practice… participation with others… practical solutions … mutual benefits… well-being

A new paradigm for ‘engaged scholarship’

… action and reflection … theory and practice… participation with others… practical solutions … mutual benefits… well-being

… informed engagement of citizens and civil

society on research and innovation matters…

(European Union)

… informed engagement of citizens and civil

society on research and innovation matters…

(European Union)

‘Working together’

Analogy of migratory geese

‘Working together’

Analogy of migratory geese

What’s in a name?

‘science and society’‘community engagement’

‘engaged scholarship’‘knowledge exchange’

‘service learning’…

What’s in a name?

‘science and society’‘community engagement’

‘engaged scholarship’‘knowledge exchange’

‘service learning’…

Four key elements … A focus on:

High quality scholarshipStakeholder collaborationMutually beneficial

outcomesPublic good intent

Four key elements … A focus on:

High quality scholarshipStakeholder collaborationMutually beneficial

outcomesPublic good intent

The challenge in implementing a new paradigm …

The challenge in implementing a new paradigm …

National policy

Universityresponses

Practice

National policy

Universityresponses

Practice

A solid policy foundation?

… how science and society engage in

collaborative knowledge processes in Australia

A solid policy foundation?

… how science and society engage in

collaborative knowledge processes in Australia

Institutional requirements:

Senior leadershipClarity of

conceptualisationInstitutionalisationQuality assuranceCapacity building

programmesRewards and recognitionFunding streams

Institutional requirements:

Senior leadershipClarity of

conceptualisationInstitutionalisationQuality assuranceCapacity building

programmesRewards and recognitionFunding streams

Simon Fraser University has committed to a CE approach….

… that informs every aspect of how a university operates, educates and

serves its students and its communities

… not as an exercise in altruism, but in the belief that this engagement also

pays enormous dividends for students, faculty and staff – and for the

university itself.

Simon Fraser University has committed to a CE approach….

… that informs every aspect of how a university operates, educates and

serves its students and its communities

… not as an exercise in altruism, but in the belief that this engagement also

pays enormous dividends for students, faculty and staff – and for the

university itself.

Can academics and external stakeholders, all with

diverse timeframes, skill sets and deliverables, just

come together and effectively collaborate?

Can academics and external stakeholders, all with

diverse timeframes, skill sets and deliverables, just

come together and effectively collaborate?

In practice:

We see a lack of skills …project management collaboration

and limited motivation

In practice:

We see a lack of skills …project management collaboration

and limited motivation

Priorities and constraints

Research producers

Research users

Knowledge Depth Breadth

Documents Long, prose Short, multiple headings, dot points

Timeframes Medium–long Short–medium

Outputs Few and far between

Regular

Responsibility 

Individuals and freedom

External parties and processes

Rigor versus pragmatism

Rigor Pragmatism

Authorship Personal Usually anonymous

Working together

The Pacific Island community and the UQ

Boilerhouse

Working together

The Pacific Island community and the UQ

Boilerhouse

References:Cuthill, O’Shea, Viljoen & Wilson, 2014 ‘Universities and the public good: A review of Knowledge Exchange policy and related university practice in Australia’ Australian Universities’ Review (accepted).Cuthill, M. 2014 ‘Community-based research in Australian universities: Reflections on national policy, institutional strategy and research practice’ in Munck, R. McIlrath, L. & Hall, B. (eds) Community Based Research: International Perspectives Palgrave Macmillan, New York (in print).Cuthill, M. 2014 ‘The nexus between knowledge, engagement and higher education in Australia: Responding to the complex challenges of our time’ in Global University Network for Innovation Higher Education in the World 5 Palgrave & Global University Network for Innovation, Basingstoke, pp.207-210.Cuthill, M. 2012 ‘A civic mission for the university: Engaged scholarship and community based participatory research’ pp.81-100 in McIlrath, L. Lyons, A. & Munck, R. (Eds.) Higher Education and Civic Engagement: Comparative Perspectives Palgrave Macmillan, New York.Cuthill, M. 2011 ‘Embedding engagement in an Australian ‘sandstone’ university: From community service to university engagement’ Metropolitan Universities 22:2, pp.21-44.Cuthill, M. & Brown, A. 2010 ‘Sceptics, Utilitarians and Missionaries: Senior managers perceptions of engagement in an Australian Research University’ The Australasian Journal of University-Community Engagement 5:2, pp.126-146.Cuthill, M. 2010 ‘Working together: A methodological case study of engaged scholarship’ Gateways: International Journal of Community Research and Engagement 3, pp.20–37.Scull, S. & Cuthill, M. 2010 ‘Engaged outreach: Using community engagement to facilitate access to higher education for people from low socio-economic backgrounds’ Higher Education Research and Development 29:1, pp.59-74.Cuthill, M. 2008 ‘A quality framework for university engagement in Australia’ International Journal for Public Participation 2:2, pp.22-41.

References:Cuthill, O’Shea, Viljoen & Wilson, 2014 ‘Universities and the public good: A review of Knowledge Exchange policy and related university practice in Australia’ Australian Universities’ Review (accepted).Cuthill, M. 2014 ‘Community-based research in Australian universities: Reflections on national policy, institutional strategy and research practice’ in Munck, R. McIlrath, L. & Hall, B. (eds) Community Based Research: International Perspectives Palgrave Macmillan, New York (in print).Cuthill, M. 2014 ‘The nexus between knowledge, engagement and higher education in Australia: Responding to the complex challenges of our time’ in Global University Network for Innovation Higher Education in the World 5 Palgrave & Global University Network for Innovation, Basingstoke, pp.207-210.Cuthill, M. 2012 ‘A civic mission for the university: Engaged scholarship and community based participatory research’ pp.81-100 in McIlrath, L. Lyons, A. & Munck, R. (Eds.) Higher Education and Civic Engagement: Comparative Perspectives Palgrave Macmillan, New York.Cuthill, M. 2011 ‘Embedding engagement in an Australian ‘sandstone’ university: From community service to university engagement’ Metropolitan Universities 22:2, pp.21-44.Cuthill, M. & Brown, A. 2010 ‘Sceptics, Utilitarians and Missionaries: Senior managers perceptions of engagement in an Australian Research University’ The Australasian Journal of University-Community Engagement 5:2, pp.126-146.Cuthill, M. 2010 ‘Working together: A methodological case study of engaged scholarship’ Gateways: International Journal of Community Research and Engagement 3, pp.20–37.Scull, S. & Cuthill, M. 2010 ‘Engaged outreach: Using community engagement to facilitate access to higher education for people from low socio-economic backgrounds’ Higher Education Research and Development 29:1, pp.59-74.Cuthill, M. 2008 ‘A quality framework for university engagement in Australia’ International Journal for Public Participation 2:2, pp.22-41.

Professor Michael CuthillChair, Regional Community Development

University of Southern Queensland

UNIVERSITY ‘COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT’IN AUSTRALIA