
Exploring Communities of Practice in Higher Education
Building an Inclusive University Culture
Steven Pattinson(Editor)
Routledge (Publisher)
1st Edition
Will be published approx. on 3. July 2026
Book
Hardback
166 pages
978-1-032-82051-4 (ISBN)
Description
Exploring how wide-ranging debates have supported, extended, repositioned, or conflicted with the original notion of Communities of Practice (CoPs) as sites of situated learning, this book argues that they can be cultivated and managed in higher education settings to create and support an inclusive culture for teaching and research, and career development.
Against the backdrop of more traditionally orientated volumes that focus on CoPs as a tool for supporting teaching and learning in the classroom, this scholarly work tackles university culture related to curriculum development, knowledge exchange activities, research, and academic careers to offer a critical appraisal of often disparate themes and epistemological perspectives in which CoPs have been applied. Critical in approach and theoretical in nature, chapters explore how CoPs can support an inclusive university research culture, offering insights on their management, cultivation and legacies. Contributions also look at their ability to help build external relationships between academics, practitioners and businesses, as well as discussions on individual identity construction and participation.
Ultimately examining the potential for CoPs to shape the future of academic institutions, this book will appeal to scholars, researchers, and postgraduate students in higher education, inclusive education and educational policy.
Against the backdrop of more traditionally orientated volumes that focus on CoPs as a tool for supporting teaching and learning in the classroom, this scholarly work tackles university culture related to curriculum development, knowledge exchange activities, research, and academic careers to offer a critical appraisal of often disparate themes and epistemological perspectives in which CoPs have been applied. Critical in approach and theoretical in nature, chapters explore how CoPs can support an inclusive university research culture, offering insights on their management, cultivation and legacies. Contributions also look at their ability to help build external relationships between academics, practitioners and businesses, as well as discussions on individual identity construction and participation.
Ultimately examining the potential for CoPs to shape the future of academic institutions, this book will appeal to scholars, researchers, and postgraduate students in higher education, inclusive education and educational policy.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Academic and Postgraduate
Illustrations
3 s/w Tabellen
3 Tables, black and white
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-032-82051-4 (9781032820514)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Steven Pattinson
Exploring Communities of Practice in Higher Education
Building an Inclusive University Culture
E-Book
approx. 07/2026
Routledge
€59.49
Available for download

Steven Pattinson
Exploring Communities of Practice in Higher Education
Building an Inclusive University Culture
E-Book
approx. 07/2026
Routledge
€59.49
Available for download
Person
Steven Pattinson is Visiting Research Fellow, Newcastle University Business School, UK.
Content
Introduction
Chapter 1: Reconceptualising communities of practice in higher education
Chapter 2: Communities of practice and the shaping of university culture.
Chapter 3: Communities of practice in Australian honours: A practical and theoretical analysis.
Chapter 4: Collaborative teaching and learning cultures in universities
Chapter 5: Communities of practice and research collaboration: Supporting research culture
Chapter 6: Fostering entrepreneurial mindsets through a community of practice: Entrepreneurship education in post-conflict societies
Chapter 7: Communities of practice and academic identity
Chapter 8: Communities of practice and knowledge exchange
Chapter 9: Future horizons for higher education: Embedding professionalism through academic communities of practice
Chapter 1: Reconceptualising communities of practice in higher education
Chapter 2: Communities of practice and the shaping of university culture.
Chapter 3: Communities of practice in Australian honours: A practical and theoretical analysis.
Chapter 4: Collaborative teaching and learning cultures in universities
Chapter 5: Communities of practice and research collaboration: Supporting research culture
Chapter 6: Fostering entrepreneurial mindsets through a community of practice: Entrepreneurship education in post-conflict societies
Chapter 7: Communities of practice and academic identity
Chapter 8: Communities of practice and knowledge exchange
Chapter 9: Future horizons for higher education: Embedding professionalism through academic communities of practice