Archer, Ben (2024) Partners, Not Predators: Using Dialectical Social Exchange Theory to Reconceptualise the Relationship Between Regional University Study Hubs and Higher Education Institutions. In: [Presented at the National Conference of Regional, Remote and Rural Education]. From: NCRRRE 2024: National Conference of Regional, Remote and Rural Education, 13 - 15 August 2024, Coffs Harbour, NSW, Australia.

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Abstract

Regional University Study Hubs are community-embedded organisations that support students from regional, remote, and rural communities in accessing a university education in Australia. Each hub is a product of its home community, with local people employed to coordinate the operations of each centre and supported financially by a combination of government grants, corporate sponsorships, and fee-for-service arrangements. Since the Australian Universities Accord, Regional University Study Hubs have become crucial enterprises for enhancing higher education access in regional, remote, and rural areas. However, as universities become more protective over market share, the potential exists that Regional University Study Hubs will become just another complicated stakeholder.

As government funding for public higher education has decreased, competitiveness within the higher education sector has increased. Subsequently, Australian universities are hesitant to collaborate at an institutional level for fear of giving an unintended competitive advantage to a competitor (Hil et al., 2022). The rise to prominence of Regional University Study Hubs presents an opportunity for the higher education sector to gain additional domestic student places from geographically disadvantaged locations. However, the competitive nature of higher education for domestic students means that institutions are more likely to attempt to enter this space on their own if it is cost-effective to do so (Norton, 2019).

This presentation will use Dialectical Social Exchange Theory (Di Domenico et al., 2009) to assist in re-conceptualising the Regional University Study Hub-University partnership. It provides a simple framework through which higher education institutions can collaborate effectively with study hubs and guides how academics can assist in this collaborative arrangement.

Item ID:	83450
Item Type:	Conference Item (Presentation)
Keywords:	higher education, rural education, dialectical social exchange, social enterprise
Copyright Information:	CC BY-NC-ND
Date Deposited:	28 Aug 2024 01:01
FoR Codes:	35 COMMERCE, MANAGEMENT, TOURISM AND SERVICES > 3507 Strategy, management and organisational behaviour > 350708 Not-for-profit business and management @ 50% 39 EDUCATION > 3903 Education systems > 390303 Higher education @ 50%
SEO Codes:	16 EDUCATION AND TRAINING > 1602 Schools and learning environments > 160204 Management, resources and leadership @ 100%
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