Campus-community partnerships in higher education: Current data from Austria

Community-based research and service learning have become relevant teaching approaches to support students’ experiential learning (FELTON & CLAYTON, 2011). Such approaches require coordinated, well-functioning partnerships between universities (campus) and civil society organisations (community partners). However, little is known about the emergence and institutionalisation of such campus-community partnerships (CCPs) in Austrian Higher Education. In 2022, 107 Austrian university teachers who cooperate with community partners as part of their courses were surveyed. The teachers were asked about their initial motivation to implement CCPs in teaching, but also about the status of CCPs at their higher education institutions and the conditions for the implementation of CCPs. The empirical results of the study indicate a low degree of CCPs institutionalisation at Austrian higher education institutions. Instead, teachers’ personal motivation, engagement and contacts are the enabling factors for CCPs in university teaching.