University–Community Partnerships

Partnerships between universities and communities encompass a wide range of activities that directly involve relationships with external groups and extend beyond what are often described as universities’ core roles in teaching and research. Hence such activities frequently are described as part of the ‘third mission’, though this is a controversial term since, as Hans Schütze suggests, it implies a hierarchy of roles. This entry provides an overview of university–community partnerships, exploring their [Page 1628]origins and evolution, the impact of the regulatory and policy landscape, and the tension between global competition and local communities.

Community engagement can be traced back to the establishment of the first universities in the West beginning in the 11th century, with religious orders being the primary community being served. Paul Benneworth and ...