Exploring Cooperative Education Partnerships: A Case Study in Sport Tertiary Education

Cooperative education can be expressed in terms of a partnership between students, university and industry. A stakeholder-integrated approach to cooperative education involves formalized sustainable relationships between stakeholders. This study investigated the motives and determinants for the formation of cooperative education partnerships. Through a qualitative case study, the perceptions of cooperative education stakeholders were explored in the context of sport tertiary education. The students, industry and academics views supported multiple determinants such as reciprocity, efficiency, legitimacy and synergy as important in the formation of cooperative education partnerships. Interpersonal connections and individual factors also played a key role. However, for long-term viability the university and industry also need to consider strategic alignment rather than partnerships based on individual interests alone. Understanding the perceptions of the stakeholders involved in the partnership will contribute to improving the management and sustainability of sport cooperative education experiences for students, the university and industry. [Papers included in this "Asia-Pacific Journal of Cooperative Education" ("APJCE") Special Issue stem from selected manuscripts from the Australian Collaborative Education Network Annual Conference 2012.]