Work in Progress
Building learning communities: Partnerships, social capital and VET performance
Summary
- Item:
- 10329
- Title:
- Building learning communities: Partnerships, social capital and VET performance
- Type:
- Managed research project
- Project no:
- NR4016
- Status:
- Finished
- Date commenced:
- 1 July 2004
- Contact:
- Janelle Allison
- phone: +61 7 5460 1125
- email: j.allison@uq.edu.au
Purpose
This project covers 2 streams of research, that of indicators and performance measures and the role of VET and partnerships. This project:
* Seeks to establish a framework within which to locate VET and other organisations as part of the infrastructure required to build a learning community
* Develop a set of indicators that simultaneously evaluate the impact of VET and partnerships on the successful evolution of a diverse range of regional communities
* Conduct the research in a way that builds the capacity of communities to evolve.
The project will make use of a multidimensional framework conceiving of partnerships and performance as one dimension on a matrix and landscape typologies (including the presence of VET) as a second dimension.
Approach
Literature review, data analysis
Research questions
What are the most effective ways of describing and evaluating partnerships (including VET partnerships) within communities? Specific questions that investigate partnerships are outlined in the methodology section.
* How do partnerships (including VET partnerships) contribute to social and economic development and does the impact vary across the diversity of landscape typologies? Specific questions investigating performance are outlined in the methodology section.
* What is the nature of the relationship between the evolution of communities, social capital and partnerships (are assumptions of interconnections useful?)?
* Can we build learning communities - if so, what are the essential ingredients?
* Are learning communities better equipped to adapt to changing environments?
* How does VET contribute to learning communities and what might VET's role be in building future learning communities in different landscapes?
Methodology
Stage 1: Planning and Preparation ?
* Literature review
* Development of matrix
* Development of criteria for selection of case studies & engagement process:
Data sources
* Literature (national and international)
* CRRI-Q networks (phone calls and follow-up to identify key informants)
* Australian Local Government Association
* Web pages
* Structured and unstructured interviews
Stage 2: Data gathering and analysis
Data sources
* Structured interviews with participants at case study sites.
* Key documents will be collected on site such as mission statements, strategic plans, memorandums of agreement, terms of reference, annual reports, progress reports, budgets.
* Results of previous research on social capital within a case study site will be collected if available.
Data analysis
* Qualitative data will be typed up, summarised thematically and input into matrix.
* Key documents will be analysed thematically and input into matrix.
* Other research relevant to the case study sites will be input into matrix.
* The matrix will be analysed for similarities and differences, solutions, barriers and themes.
* Initial analysis will be validated by follow up with key informants from case studies and cross-checked by selected research fellows.
Stage 3: Report writing
Organisations
The Centre for Rural and Regional Innovation (CRRI-Q) is a partnership between the University of QLD and the Department of Primary Industries. It was formerly the Rural Extension Centre (REC) and has an excellent reputation for training and short courses delivered flexibly and based on an adult learning approach. CRRI-Q continues this training and currently offers courses and training in all states in Australia. Associate Professor Janelle Allison is the Director of CRRI-Q. Dr. Allison is an urban and regional planner with a strong background in community and regional development. She has worked with both rural and urban communities in Australia and in South Africa and Indonesia.
