“We’re in It for the Long Haul”: Connection, Generation and Transformation Through a School-University Partnership

Abstract

AbstractThis paper investigates a transformational school-university partnership project designed to provide authentic learning experiences for pre-service teachers (PSTs); broaden aspirations for regional students in disadvantaged areas; and, work within government policies. Initiated in 2012, the Activity Day project involved two regional secondary colleges and their Years 8 and 9 students who took part in a learning event organised and implemented by second year PSTs as part of their teacher education program. The project has endured ten years of delivery and changes of personnel, having been developed from the learnings of a similar project. A qualitative mixed methods approach was used to evaluate and report on this project. Collaborative self-study combined with semi-structured interviews and feedback from PSTs, teachers and students were used to examine the benefits and challenges of the project. The findings indicate that all parties felt the project was beneficial to them and that there was also scope for future expansion and enhancement. A model known as the RESET model is presented in this chapter. This model draws on our years of school and university partnership activities to highlight important factors that we believe are vital to the success of any school and university partnership.