On February 3, 2016, partners of the Knowledge Mobilization hub research project, Embracing community outcomes: Using student engagement as knowledge mobilization, came together over breakfast to share and discuss the themes emerging as part of their project findings.
The project examined student experiences of community-campus engagement, and specifically looked at how student engagement can enhance knowledge mobilization efforts for, and between, communities, students, and universities. To conduct this research, the project partners designed and tested a systematic feedback loop meant to inform effective and efficient partnership outcomes for all three partners: community, students, and university. The research gathered participant feedback through extensive interviews completed with students, community partners and practicum coordinators around the following questions:
- How can knowledge be mobilized through student engagement in the community?
- What is the impact of student engagement on community?
- What are good practices?
- And what are the difficulties?
Emerging themes from the research included:
- Benefits: Community-university partnerships in the form of student placement bring multiple benefits to students, community agencies and university programs.
- Challenges: Multiple challenges have been identified for community organizations, students and the university.
- Support: It is important to support students to take responsibility for their own learning.
- Connection is vital.
- Knowledge should be mobilized between the university and the community in a two-way channel.
- Knowledge from the community should be respected.
The breakfast event was hugely successful, with partners collaboratively sharing project results and providing rich feedback on how the University of Victoria’s (UVic) Office of Community Engagement could improve practicum placement processes.
For more information on the project’s emerging themes, check out their breakfast event presentation below!
