Impact in Progress: a pracademic's learning journey in NGO Collaboration

• In Event: Pracademia: Impacts and Pathways

Abstract

This abstract encapsulates the author’s personal learning journey as a "pracademic" within the context of long-term cooperation with Liliane Foundation, an NGO focusing on disability inclusive development. It explores the experiences gained, obstacles encountered, and the valuable lessons learned, all aimed at enhancing the relevance and impact of the partnership. The journey includes an essential phase of reflection on the achieved impacts, dissecting the tangible changes brought about by this collaborative endeavour. Central to this narrative is the examination of initial assumptions that guided the pracademic's interaction with the NGO. These assumptions evolve over time, challenging preconceived notions and prompting a re-evaluation of the pracademic's roles within the collaboration. This abstract delves into the dynamic interplay between these evolving roles, showcasing how they adapt or remain steadfast throughout the duration of the partnership. This exploration provides critical insights for pracademics involved in sustainable and impactful cooperative efforts, shedding light on the transformative process and adaptive nature of these partnerships. It underscores the continuous learning and development inherent in the pracademic role and how it can lead to more effective and relevant long-term cooperation with NGOs.

Author

• Willem Elbers, University of Nijmegen