Doing What we Know we Should: Engaged scholarship and community development

TitleDoing What we Know we Should: Engaged scholarship and community development
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2008
Authorsand Muirhead, Bruce WG
JournalGateways: International Journal of Community Research and Engagement
Volume1
Pagination9-30
Abstract

Reflects on the experience of the Community Service and Research Centre at the University of Queensland and their role in the Goodna Area Service Integration Project (SIP)- a community development project aimed at better matching up capacity in the human service sector with the regions needs. From this experience the authors conclude that while there are “significant benefits universities and communities that effectively engage with each other, the political will to recognise engaged scholarship as scholarly excellence is constrained by its definition as ‘community service’” (p. 27). In developing the SIP, the author notes partners drew on literature and ‘best practices’ in the areas of: place management, service integration, social inclusion/social capital, local governance and network relations. The literature on network governance (cited in the ANSER paper) identifies collaboration among partners as a form of network structure where “the purpose is specific, often complex and usually long-term”. Collaboration is seen as a fully integrated activity and the most stable form of partnership.