Student-faculty partnership in research: Evaluating a university-wide initiative for scalability in a Sino-American university

Student-faculty partnerships hold immense promise for student learning and engagement. Concerns related to its scalability, accessibility, and the extent to which it benefits a broad spectrum of students remain, particularly in the Asian context. This study investigates a university-wide Student-Faculty Partnership (SFP) initiative at a Sino-American university. The initiative's scalability and effectiveness are evaluated using a comprehensive mixed-methods approach, which includes document analysis, surveys, and in-depth face-to-face interviews. Findings indicate a significant increase in SFP projects and participation over the years, reflecting growing acceptance and implementation across disciplines. The initiative fosters substantial student growth in research skills and confidence, alongside promoting more dynamic student-faculty relationships. However, hurdles persist, particularly in addressing power dynamics and reciprocal benefits of partnering in scholarly inquiry. This study contributes to the broader discourse on adapting and integrating SFP across cultures while expanding its scale.