ABSTRACT
SUMMARY This chapter will briefly consider good practice and pitfalls identified from past and existing networks. In the light of the emphasis on networks in the new European training and development programmes, it is useful to consider the role of transnational partnerships (the favourite EU term for networks) and how effective partnerships can be developed and written into applications. The UK government also has a recent history of pump-priming consortia and ‘strategic’ partnerships.
It is not only in education that networks have been expanding in numbers; industry too has been involving itself in networks, more often referred to as ‘strategic alliances’. It would seem pertinent, therefore, to consider whether the experiences of industrial networks bear any relevance to educational networks. Finally, I would like to encourage further discussion as to how new technology might be exploited to facilitate people networking. This chapter does not intend to provide the definitive answer, rather it is an opportunity to raise some of the issues and encourage positive developments in people networking.
