Research-teaching linkages initially (2006): scoping work on questions of institutional STRUCTURE...

research-teaching linkages

initially (2006): scoping work on questions of institutional STRUCTURE and CULTURE


If you want to change the relationship(s) between research and teaching/learning in an institution, and you need to change (infra)structure and culture, how do you go about it. And why?


(naming the theme)possible change of name to:‘effective graduate skills’‘inquiry, learning and graduate attributes’


Some scoping work had been focused on:

‘graduate attributes associated with research’

‘research-related attributes’ ‘research mindedness’

but at further meeting of committee this seemed unduly narrow as focus…


much broader agenda agreed, more in keeping with spirit of original theme…


title now:

‘Research teaching linkages: enhancing graduate attributes’


One of many possible starting points the distance between Scottish – British? – higher education (all of it or just most of it?) from research-teaching linkage practice elsewhere, eg USA, Australasia.


examples of recent projects (from HEA conference of 24 November 2006):‘Turning an undergraduate class into a professional research community: a pilot project on the biography of chlorine’‘Student as producer: reinventing the undergraduate curriculum’These and others leading to such questions as:


What is undergraduate research?What constitutes student research?Benefits of students?Benefits for staff?Benefits for institutions?Organizational and resource issues?


Much broader conception of theme:eg University of Gloucestershire reviewing entire

conception of ‘academic’ activities and process via an Academic Unit including PVC (Academic), Head of Centre for Enterprise, Deans of Research, Teaching and Learning, Quality and Standards in order to ‘assess the whole of the University’s academic portfolio and the procedures that drive such provision, to determine linkages and complementarities’


Also a Pedagogic Research and Scholarship Institute to ‘support, promote and foster those areas of the University’s professional activity associated with pedagogic research and scholarship’. Its mission involves ‘the promotion and enhancement of research and scholarship that enquires into teaching and learning environments, experiences, contexts, processes and outcomes’.


One of many possible starting points the distance between Scottish – British? – higher education (all of it or just most of it?) from research-teaching linkage practice elsewhere, eg USA, Australasia. eg US National Science Foundation presentation at HEA conference (from Rosemary Haggett):


eg question for grant applicants:

How well does the activity advance discovery and understanding while promoting teaching, training and learning?

To what extent will it enhance the infrastructure for research and education such as facilities, instrumentation, networks and partnerships?


2007: awareness raising, extension of participation, eg:

websiteletter to VCsinstitutional involvementdiscipline contactsconferences and symposia


currently (May 2007):

sector wide project supporting institutional reflections on r-t linkages

series of discipline projects



agreement that institutions will provide narrative (for QAA Scotland website) of their own approach to enhancement in r-t linkages domain, starting now but until October 2007



contract from QAA for small-scale funding of University of Stirling r-t linkages enhancement activities

Research-teaching linkages initially (2006): scoping work on questions of institutional STRUCTURE...

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