Adapting the RPP model to non-US contexts: Broadening the perspective

In this chapter we emphasize the critical role of context in shaping conditions necessary for the creation, maintenance, and sustainability of research-practice partnerships (RPPs). We examine various interrelated systemic factors, such as the structure of the education system, the culture of data use, the availability of funding and resources, and policy turbulence, and discuss their role in shaping the RPP landscape. Our analysis draws primarily on examples from two contexts – the United States, where the RPP community originated, and Israel, where the LAB RPP, which is at the core of this book, took place. We provide data to support our argument that context is fundamental to the structure and operation of education systems, thus playing a critical role in RPPs. We conclude by suggesting that broadening our conceptualization of RPPs may promote the expansion of the RPP community’s boundaries, facilitating greater participation in international contexts and furthering the collective understanding of RPPs.