Outcomes of partnership between higher education and health care

Abstract

The aim of this study was to describe partnership activities between a university of applied sciences and a nursing care unit for the elderly, the competences that staff members working across these organizations needed and the outcomes gained. Staff of the organizations took part in nine focus group interviews ( n = 39) and completed self-evaluations based on diaries ( n = 13) and essays ( n = 24). The data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. The staff planned, coordinated, implemented and surveyed change processes based on a joint development target and developed student supervision. Staff needed competence to analyze their expertise and the organizations’ operations, as well as to manage development work, negotiations, communication and networking. The outcomes included identifying possibilities for cooperation and establishing new partnerships, developing good practices and new expertise, boosting student recruitment and supervision, as well as recruiting staff, mentoring and advancing their career development.