Preparing the Way for Reform in Higher Education: Drawing Upon the Resources of the Community-at-Large
Higher education is being asked to pay more attention to student learning and to contribute to the enhancement of the social and economic conditions of the community it serves. As a result, educational institutions will no longer be self-contained. Community members and organizations have become not only critical partners in framing the goals and intentions of the educational reform movement, but they also have assets that must be tapped by educational institutions that wish to implement change and respond to social needs.
Building a sustainable university–community partnership: case study in science education
ABSTRACT Collaboration with the educational systems is needed to leverage the community to address the problem of declining interest in science education among young people, yet building effective university–community partnerships is a highly complex process. This research investigated partnership building in a regional science initiative designed to encourage and develop relationships between academic experts, scientists, engineers, and community. The study goals were to evaluate (1) the organizational structures that enable operation of a multi-organizational regional partnership; (2) the members’ perceptions of the common goals benefits and costs of participation in the partnership. Using the sequential mixed-method approach, 60 interviews conducted in the first phase were used to develop a questionnaire to which 224 partners responded. The research results provided a comprehensive evaluation of the university–community partnership. The results also demonstrated the effectiveness of a scale employed defining four hierarchical levels of partnership for assessing the development of any partnership over time.
The economic health of dentistry: past, present, and future.
Important changes in dentistry during the past two decades include a declining caries incidence, an increase in the number of dentists, greater competition for patients, and the spread of retail dentistry and alternative plans for financing and delivering dental services. Dire predictions about the effects of these changes often have not been based on facts. This article uses available data to examine the profession's economic prospects.