Joining Hands: A Survey of Non-Academic Collaboration between Commonwealth Universities

• Main Author: Lund, Helen
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: Commonwealth Higher Education Management Service 01-03-1998
• Subjects: College Administration; Commonwealth of Nations; Cooperative Programs; Foreign Countries; Higher Education; International Cooperation; Regional Cooperation; Surveys; Universities
• ISBN: 0851431631; 9780851431635

This survey of 100 universities in British Commonwealth nations examined the extent of nonacademic collaborative efforts. Responses from 41 institutions in seven countries (Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and the United Kingdom) were analyzed. The study found that the nonacademic areas which currently are the focus of most of the collaborative activity are libraries/information services; estates management; management information; and purchasing. Collaborative activity was also reported in the areas of admissions, human resource management, marketing, staff development, and student services. The areas of alumni management, internal audit, student accommodation, laboratory equipment/use, industrial liaison, financial management (with the exception of insurance services), and catering/food services were rarely reported as involving collaboration. Most collaboration takes place on a regional scale, with few respondents citing instances of international cooperation. Benefits of collaboration reported by respondents included lower costs, better customer service, a more efficient use of staff, cheaper and/or better staff development, shared expertise and problem-solving, and increased lobbying power. Difficulties cited included heavy costs for some partners in joint projects, problems arising from different cultures within institutions, and conflicts between institutional and consortium/group agendas. A categorized list of areas covered by the survey is appended. (Contains 56 references.) (DB)