| Asset-based community development (ABCD) is a strength-based approach for capacity building within a community (Kretzmann & McKnight, 1993). This community-driven approach to development builds on existing assets and strengths in order for a community to maximize its collective potential. The purpose of this conceptual study is to examine the theoretical and applied rationale for the application of ABCD in the educational context. The study has resulted in three primary outcomes. First, the study situates education within the global context of development to present a meta-analysis of the shared ideological shift to emerging community-driven, asset-based approaches linking education and development processes. Second, the foundational theories of an ABCD approach are examined along with a review that determines the approach to be highly relevant to the educational context. Third, the implications of an ABCD approach to the educational context are explored from the point of view of the different stakeholders in the educational community. The study presents a novel conceptualized model of ABCD for an educational community, and argues for further exploration of the processes and dynamics associated with the approach. |
