This book contains a series of unique international contributions that explore risk in partnerships involving education. Presenting a range of theoretical, methodological and practical perspectives, the book discusses aspects such as the role of motivation, leadership, process and context in such partnerships and provides examples of research methods for examining them. It illuminates the different histories and disciplinary backgrounds of partners, showing that risk can reside in the different expectations, understandings and interpretations that each partner brings to educational partnerships. The eighteen chapters discuss critical examinations of educational partnerships from very different perspectives, including formal learning institutions and community partners, and include the voices from children, students, teachers and policy makers. The book provides insights for everyone who is considering the challenges that can arise in partnerships and will be useful for researchers at different levels and those who are planning to forge new partnerships or think about what may present itself to be a challenge, and how to address and overcome such challenges.

Kathrin Otrel-Cass, Ph.D., is professor in teaching, learning and digital transformations at the University of Graz, Austria. Her research interests are often of interdisciplinary in nature with focus on digital visual anthropology and variety of qualitative, ethnographic methodologies. She works with various practitioners and experts in environments where people are working with science/technology/engineering practices or their knowledge products. Her research is often set in schools but is not exclusive to those environments. Her research interest in visual ethnography has led to the establishment of a video research laboratory in Graz with a focus on the organized analysis of video recorded data. Kathrin is a member of Network 15, partnerships in education of the European Education Research Association (EERA). Karen Laing is Co-Director of the Centre for Learning and Teaching and Senior Research Associate at Newcastle University, UK. She specialises in research about how societal structures, institutions and practices impact on vulnerable or disadvantaged children, young people, families and communities. Specific interests include: how different professionals work together to deliver services and opportunities for children (particularly involving schools); theory-based research approaches in project development and evaluation; and, participatory research methods. She has a keen interest in co-creation and the processes involved in stimulating change from research. She is an experienced researcher, having led over 40 research projects and collaborated on many more. Her work is guided by an overarching commitment to social justice and drawing on socio-cultural theory. Janet Wolf is an Assistant Professor in teacher training within the field of interdisciplinary subjects such as multicultural education, citizenship education etc. at Faculty of Education, University of Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic. Her research interests focus on second language learners and their inclusion in education. She is a member of various research groups involving experts from several countries. Janet is a member and reviewer of Network 15, partnership in education of the European Education Research Association (EERA).