Toolkit Framework - Curriculum Collaboration
For the purposes of the project, curriculum collaboration is defined as the process of institutions working together as equal partners with shared vision, values, and guiding principles towards the development of a sustainable Curriculum Commons Model that can be replicated across the Alberta post-secondary college and technical institute system.
Key Factors that Contribute to Successful Collaboration
The Curriculum Commons Steering Committee supported the following list of factors that contribute to successful collaboration:
- Shared vision
- Mutual respect, understanding, and trust
- Ability of members to see collaboration as being in their self-interest (at faculty and institutional levels)
- Concrete attainable goals and objectives
- Limited number of partners
- Partnership with institutions of similar structure and course content (programs)
Operational Definitions
Curriculum collaboration. Curriculum collaboration is defined as the process of institutions working together as equal partners with shared vision, goals, and guiding principles towards the development of a sustainable Curriculum Commons Model that can be replicated across the Alberta post-secondary college and technical institute system.
Cooperation and Collaboration. Cooperation and collaboration are interdependent variables, but are different processes. Cooperation is closely aligned with the concept of team, whereas collaboration likely depends on the goodwill and positive attitudes that characterize cooperation. Collaboration, however, it is a different process: it is about shared goals and objectives, and establishing management practices (plans and procedures) to create sustainable structures and organizations. Thus, it is important to recognize that a key feature of collaboration is its ability to create sustainable structures and processes that are independent of individuals, personalities, and relationships.