Students as partners: towards theorisation of a complex phenomenon

Abstract

The goal of this paper is to contribute to theorising the complex concept of students as partners (SaP). This is important because SaP has far-reaching implications for higher education, but as yet there appears to be insufficient understanding about what exactly partnership is, and what it can legitimately claim to achieve. ‘Partnership’ may not be best for describing situations where students work with academics, due to hierarchical differences that result from unequal levels of expertise and knowledge. SaP further sometimes appears to be an elite idea benefitting small numbers of students. Moreover, the volume of concepts associated with SaP makes it too expansive to form a coherent theory, rendering critique hard. Because SaP embodies admirable values, it can be hard to argue against. Finally, we examine the extent to which SaP might devalue the role of the teacher and of knowledge.