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The importance of university, students and students’ union partnerships in student-led projects

Briggs, SJ; Laycock Pedersen, R; Robinson, ZP; Hadley, RL

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Authors

SJ Briggs

R Laycock Pedersen

RL Hadley



Abstract

Purpose This paper aims to explore a single-institution case study of partnership working between students, the University and Students’ Union, through four student-led sustainability projects. The paper analyses the role and value of these partnerships and provides advice for other institutions on effective partnership working between these stakeholders. Design/methodology/approach A single case study of partnership working with multiple embedded units of analysis (four projects) is presented based on reflections of practitioners involved in the projects who have different roles within the University and Students’ Union. Findings The longevity and effectiveness of student-led projects, and disciplinary-breadth of students engaged, can be enhanced by greater collaboration with, and integration into, University and Students’ Union systems. Partnership working between different stakeholders is key to overcoming challenges and the success of student-led projects, helped by key staff “enablers”. These projects provide myriad learning opportunities for developing change agency skills, even where projects are relatively short-lived and could be seen as failures in terms of longevity. Research limitations/implications This analysis is based solely on practitioner reflections, with limited direct quantification or qualitative data on the projects’ impacts on the students themselves. Originality/value This paper draws together the experiences and reflections of four practitioners with different roles within the University and Students’ Union across four different projects and provides advice to generate student-led sustainability projects which have longevity and impact for wider student populations and future generations of cohorts.

Acceptance Date Jul 15, 2019
Publication Date Oct 24, 2019
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education
Print ISSN 1467-6370
Publisher Emerald
Pages 1409 -1427
DOI https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-01-2019-0050
Keywords Partnerships, Curriculum, Sustainable development goals, Co-curriculum,
Hidden curriculum, Students’ unions
Publisher URL https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-01-2019-0050

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