Date of Award
Spring 2021
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education (EdD)
Department
Education Policy, Planning, and Administration
Committee Chairperson
David I. Backer, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Peter H. Loedel, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Patriece Campbell, Ed.D.
Abstract
Higher education is now globally connected. While a positive development, such connections make international partnerships susceptible to global and regional crises. This study focused on a consortium partnership called the Cooperation on Higher Education and Professional Development (CHEPD) program. This study examined how international colleagues in China and the United States co-manage partnership challenges using a network approach to social capital theory. Such an approach helps to understand how administrators navigate relational resources by describing the consortium’s network composition. This study used a mixed-methods approach with a social network analysis to supplement the qualitative relational data. The literature shows that personal relationships aid partnership sustainability. However, relational importance is difficult to measure, to justify additional partnership resources. The research findings show the benefit of investing in and understanding how to mobilize social relationships as an instrument for partnership sustainability. International partnership administrators with sustainable relationships will be able to endure future crises.
Keywords: international partnerships, crisis, networks, social capital
Recommended Citation
Kinney, Christina M., "More Than Colleagues: Understanding International Higher Education Partnerships During Crisis" (2021). West Chester University Doctoral Projects. 105.
https://digitalcommons.wcupa.edu/all_doctoral/105
Included in
Higher Education Administration Commons, International and Comparative Education Commons