ABSTRACT
Strategic partnerships are intentionally formed based on goal alignment among partners that helps create more staying power. Like traditional partnerships emerging out of individual interests, individuals may initiate strategic partnerships. The role of leaders in strategic partnerships is to create meaning for campus members that underscores why the partnership is important and how it supports organizational strategy. This chapter presents a theoretical model that lays out the development process for educational collaborations, incorporating the strategic partnership themes and resulting in a toolbox for those interested in partnering and leading organizational change. It introduces a review of the three phases of the strategic partnership model, namely, pre-partnership, partnership development, and partnership capital. Partnerships occur within the dynamic environment of higher education. Long-standing collaboration between college teacher preparation programs and public schools, between school districts and colleges for dual enrollment, and between colleges and businesses showcase the benefits of partnering.
