Clusters

Overall Roles and Responsibilities

Each cluster will invest considerable time in shaping a purpose and translating that purpose into specific goals. Therefore, each cluster is likely to be unique. Generally, the roles shared by the clusters are as follows:

- Provide a fertile collaborative learning environment for experiential learning.

- Conduct research that fulfills a current community need.

- Each cluster is responsible for managing its own administration. Rotating these roles between all cluster members is encouraged, to model partnership behaviour. Administrative tasks include:

- Scheduling cluster meetings.

- Taking minutes at each cluster meeting, and submit the minutes in a timely manner to PCHR administrative staff for posting on the website.

- Developing a 1/2 page workplan annually by December 31st, for posting on the website, recruitment purposes, promotional purposes, knowledge dissemination, and reporting purposes.

- Adhering to the mentor recruitment (i.e., interview with at least one of the program directors) and orientation process).

- Adhering to the applicant selection process (i.e., advising potential learners to submit an application to the program manager by the predetermined deadline, who will process the application via the Learner Recruitment and Selection Committee. This includes learners paid from other sources).

- Fundraising for cluster activities if required.

A list of core competencies and recommendations on how to teach them has been developed by our mentors (see other sections on the website: Program Plan and Core Competencies) and approved by the Steering Council. Some core competencies will be taught in formal sessions (e.g., seminars) and others will be assigned mainly to the clusters. For example:

- Transdisciplinarity;

- Problem-Based Learning; and

- Equality and equity in partnerships.

Membership

Normally, a minimum of one academic and one community mentor, who will act as cluster co-conveners; at least one academic learner and at least one community learner (usually more); and additional mentors, as required.

The exact cluster composition is to be determined by the cluster co-conveners, in accordance with decisions made by the Steering Council and by all of the co‑conveners during the learner selection process.

Accountability

Accountable to the Steering Council.