Making BIG Things Happen Through Strategic Collaboration. Mara B. Huber, Ph.D.

Why is collaboration so important?  Share a flexible model for strategic collaboration2 Applications:  

•Buffalo Public Schools Partnership•Buffalo Tanzania Project

Lessons LearnedDiscussion

UB Center for Educational Collaboration

Why so important?Increasing expectations for (educational) partnerships

UB Center for Educational Collaboration

POLICY MANDATES

RFP’S

SENSE OF URGENCY

DWINDLING RESOURCES

Emphasis on partnershipsthat are:

√ Equitable √ Innovative√ Impactful√ Sustainable√ Transformative

New expectations for partnerships AND partners

Inherent Appeal of Partnerships

UB Center for Educational Collaboration

Needs:

• Teachers• Administrators• Prof. dev• Expertise• Opportunities• Resources• Improved models

**Needs:

• Students• Placements• Research• Grants• Opportunities• Improved

models

We need one another to fulfill our respective missions

Partnerships are often built on unstable foundations

UB Center for Educational Collaboration

RESOURCES

EXPECTATIONS

PARTNERSHIP

Weak foundation can result  in limited impact

Partnerships are surprisingly complex

UB Center for Educational Collaboration

Challenge of bringing together such disparate systems/cultures

• intercultural differences• interpersonal differences• historical baggage• stereotypes• power imbalances• changing personnel• lack of accountability

Many partnership models are highly localized

UB Center for Educational Collaboration

Opportunity for impact is inherently limited

• focus on specific grant programs • limited participation• limited understanding• communication limited to kick-off• leadership may change • expertise specific to content

How to address challenges to maximize impact?

UB Center for Educational Collaboration

UB Center for Educational Collaboration

Simple Process Model

√ Build foundation on trust, respect, and understanding√ Identify areas of shared interest that are at the right level√ Seed core programs in focus domains√ Study and communicate impact√ BUILD CAPACITY

Example:  UB‐ Buffalo Public Schools Partnership

1.  Building foundation: shared position

2.  Areas of focus:  ‐research and evaluation‐ academic acceleration‐college readiness‐strategic support 

UB Center for Educational Collaboration

Example:  UB‐ Buffalo Public Schools Partnership

3. Seed signature programs‐ R & E:  Extended Learning Opportunity Program‐ Summer STEM camps‐ Buffalo Partnership Scholarship Program‐ informal counsel and facilitation

4.  Study and communicate impactEvaluation contracts; newsletters; website; presentations; articles

UB Center for Educational Collaboration

Example:  UB‐ Buffalo Public Schools Partnership

4. Build Capacity‐ evolution of summer STEM‐ expansion to after school‐ grant applications‐ development of “Pathways” including Civic Pathways‐ evolution of University piece including Destination College‐ expansion of model to international venue

UB Center for Educational Collaboration

Example:  Buffalo Tanzania Education Project

1. Laying  the foundation:  

2009 trip; IHSA

2. Identifying areas of focus:education; health; economics; infrastructure

3.  Seeding Signature ProgramsEarly Childhood School; Secondary School; Solar Cookers; Water

UB Center for Educational Collaboration

Example:  Buffalo Tanzania Education Project

4. Studying and Communicating Impactsolar cooker research; focus groupswebsite; videos; presentations…

5.  Building Capacitycommunity partnersresearch grouppublic health projectclasswiki site

UB Center for Educational Collaboration

Lessons Learned

√  Importance of leadership√ Importance of strategic planning√  Value of stepping away from the work√  Need for clear accountability on both sides√ Partnership must be built on respect, trust, and understanding√ Notion of partner readiness

It is possible to build strong, sustainable, impactful partnerships

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How far can we go?

√  Importance of mission√  Importance of process√  Power of historical tendencies……

If left to their own natural course, partnerships will not live up to our hopes and expectations…. Must be created and maintained by design

UB Center for Educational Collaboration