Social resilience
A Transition University provides opportunities for interdepartmental and intergenerational interaction and relationships out of the established hierarchical structures that may dominate a university. A highly positioned academic staff member can dig potatoes on equal terms with an undergraduate, while an Estates/Facilities Manager can get to know and understand the neighbouring local community members. Opportunities for discovering new pathways and ways of exchange help people adapt to changes from within and outside the university.
Efficient use of staff and resources
By drawing on the available skills and energy of a community of volunteers, student interns, full-time staff as well as interested academics and operations staff, Transition Universities can be both more effective and efficient than initiatives taken forward by one sector of the University community. Their flexible structure can deliver things as diverse as doing research to cleaning out sheds. This makes it attractive to invest in, both for the university management and potential external funders.
Improved community relations
Relationships with the wider community are often improved through the Transition University as it increases interaction and exchange between university staff/students and local community members. It leads to more integration and can become an important part of the university’s strategy on community engagement and sustainability. The Transition group can feed into the university their own ideas and priorities, and support them be realised. It will improve community relations, but also give brilliant suggestions for potential ways forward. Some projects create events or outcomes that are good for everyone e.g. a skillshare open day or a community garden.
The first vegetable harvested from Albany Park Hall Garden was taken by this young local resident and his mum. The growing space at St Andrews University acts as a meeting point between the community and university. Photo: Transition University of St. Andrews.
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