Collaboration
Collaborative Pathways in Sports Management: A Journey Through Partnership Pedagogy in an Open Access Textbook
Western Sydney University
Dr Jessica Richards; Paul Jewell; and Dr Daniela Spanjaard
Overview
This chapter explores the application of partnership pedagogy to develop an open-access textbook tailored for sports management students at Western Sydney University. It underscores the benefits of partnership-driven teaching methods and traces its evolution through the collaborative creation of an open-access textbook in conjunction with industry stakeholders. In the realm of sports management, where North American and British literature often holds sway, creating an open-access textbook paved the way for students to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the Australian sports industry.
By closely collaborating with sports codes and organisations, academics have actively co-created and co-designed curricula, captured local insights, and dismantled geographical barriers to sharing knowledge about the flourishing Australian sports market—an aspect typically overlooked in conventional sports management textbooks. The collaborative efforts with sports organisations have not only provided a platform for representing typically marginalised sectors, such as women’s sports, but also for exploring niche activities, such as surfing and skateboarding. This inclusive approach, facilitated by the open-access platform, elevates and delves into these previously underexplored areas within the course content.
Using this case study
- Be inspired to learn how academic authors can use open textbooks to fill gaps in the local market and tailor learning material to student needs and success
- Learn the benefits of collaborating together and with industry stakeholders in the creation of OER
- Discover how a collaborative approach fosters a dynamic learning experience, which is both responsive to current industry trends and global perspectives, while also addressing gaps and underrepresentation in traditional textbooks
- Understand the importance of ongoing collaboration to support the iterative nature of open textbooks
- Recognise the unique skill sets that librarians bring in supporting academics throughout the development process and ensuring high-quality, impactful educational materials
Key stakeholders
The key stakeholders involved in the creation of this open access textbook were sport management academic staff, the library staff, the university legal staff and industry leaders working in the sports sector. The case studies included in the open textbook reflect those sourced from local sporting organisations in the region and range from grassroots sports examples to national sporting teams.
Background information
The creation of an open-access textbook for a sports marketing unit stemmed from two primary challenges encountered by the subject coordinator during the initial design of the subject.
Firstly, she observed that conventional sports mar