Purpose: The purpose of this research is to analyse knowledge flows within a transnational educational partnership and to use social network analysis to map out structural differences between the two partners and the evolution of these differences over time. Design/methodology/approach: A single longitudinal case study social network analysis is undertaken over a ten-year period based on semi-structured interviews with key informants supported by observational and archival data. Findings: The investigation identifies feedback, feed-forward and feed-across knowledge transfer processes resulting in shared personal learning within the network zone and increasing institutionalisation of acquired knowledge. Research limitations/implications: The findings are based on a single case study setting and further research with similar partnerships needs to be undertaken to establish points of comparison. Practical implications: How diagrammatic representation can be used to capture key structural issues that underpin the knowledge management process in loosely formed organisational settings. Originality/value: The paper presents a new diagnostic-enabling knowledge management model that helps address issues of how knowledge flows/transfer can be analysed and identified between partners at individual, group and organisational level. This model also identifies the inter-organisational space that bounds the social network under discussion. (Contains 4 figures and 1 table.)