Evaluating student partnership models in Australian universities: A benchmarking study

Abstract

This research investigates the diversity and typology of Students as Partners (SaP) models across Australian universities, providing a framework for benchmarking institutional engagement with student partnerships. By reviewing public information and employing document and critical discourse analysis (CDA) on 38 university websites, the study highlights variations in SaP initiatives, ranging from comprehensive to not evident. The study adapts Barrie’s (2007) four-quadrant framework to categorise SaP practices as: no or limited engagement, fragmented, targeted, or emancipatory. The findings reveal significant differences in how universities govern, promote, and implement SaP, with only a notable few demonstrating authentic strategic partnerships. SaP is widely recognised as a critical and transformative strategy that acknowledges student agency in engaging with how universities are governed and how curricula can be designed. Therefore, this study aims to advance current SaP practices by providing a benchmark for the various configurations of SaP at Australian higher education institutions