Page 159 - Štremfel, Urška, and Maša Vidmar (eds.). 2018. Early School Leaving: Cooperation Perspectives. Ljubljana: Pedagoški inštitut.
P. 159
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Relational Expertise as a Prerequisite
for Effective Multi-professional
Collaboration on ESL
Maša Vidmar and Kaja Šepec
Synopsis
Relational expertise is the ability to recognise and respond to oth-
er professionals’ standpoints, while at the same time utilising the
knowledge that underpins one’s own practice. This deepens profes-
sionals’ understanding of a certain problem and enriches practice,
making it an ideal way to help improve the ways multi-professional
teams tackling ESL operate.
Summary
Appointed by the European Commission, the Thematic Working
Group on Early School Leaving identified multi-professional
teams as the key entity for successfully combatting ESL (European
Commission, 2013). It is crucial to promote effective cooperation
among professionals from various fields. One element seen as vital to
fostering cooperation amongst professionals is Edwards’ (2005) con-
cept of relational expertise. For this article’s purposes, we conduct-
ed a scientific review of literature on the topic of relational expertise,
with the aim to identify its components, role in multi-professional
team cooperation and potential for addressing ESL. Relational ex-
pertise is described as a skill that complements one’s existing knowl-
edge by properly acknowledging other professionals’ standpoints,
thereby developing the capacity to work with others on solving com-
plex problems like ESL. For example, relational expertise helps in
159
Relational Expertise as a Prerequisite
for Effective Multi-professional
Collaboration on ESL
Maša Vidmar and Kaja Šepec
Synopsis
Relational expertise is the ability to recognise and respond to oth-
er professionals’ standpoints, while at the same time utilising the
knowledge that underpins one’s own practice. This deepens profes-
sionals’ understanding of a certain problem and enriches practice,
making it an ideal way to help improve the ways multi-professional
teams tackling ESL operate.
Summary
Appointed by the European Commission, the Thematic Working
Group on Early School Leaving identified multi-professional
teams as the key entity for successfully combatting ESL (European
Commission, 2013). It is crucial to promote effective cooperation
among professionals from various fields. One element seen as vital to
fostering cooperation amongst professionals is Edwards’ (2005) con-
cept of relational expertise. For this article’s purposes, we conduct-
ed a scientific review of literature on the topic of relational expertise,
with the aim to identify its components, role in multi-professional
team cooperation and potential for addressing ESL. Relational ex-
pertise is described as a skill that complements one’s existing knowl-
edge by properly acknowledging other professionals’ standpoints,
thereby developing the capacity to work with others on solving com-
plex problems like ESL. For example, relational expertise helps in
159
