University-community Partnerships: Demystifying the Process of Engagement

The emergence of community engagement in higher education and the renewed emphasis on community involvement presents greater opportunities for strengthening university-community partnerships for the common good. These partnerships are nurtured through a range of processes that can be leveraged to address critical issues in local communities. A qualitative inquiry conducted at six universities nationally with academics, administrators and students suggest that there are certain key processes that underpin how universities engage with communities. A thematic analysis of data reveals that building partnerships, the co-production of knowledge and collaboration are some of the key processes that guide the way these universities engage with their communities.