Majority of public fails to appreciate academics¡¯ pandemic impact

Less than half of 바카라사이트 general public believe that universities have been important in?helping 바카라사이트?world through 바카라사이트?Covid-19 pandemic, according to a?major global survey.

While 바카라사이트 success of academic science in?developing vaccines, treatments and strategies to?combat 바카라사이트 virus has saved countless lives, results from a?poll of?just over 6,000 people suggest that 바카라사이트?reputational benefits accruing to?universities through 바카라사이트?pandemic may be?limited.

Far from surfing a wave of popularity linked to Covid-era innovations, only 46?per cent of 바카라사이트 general public said universities were important in tackling 바카라사이트 pandemic, according to a study by 바카라사이트 World?100 Reputation Network, which polled at least 1,000 people each in Australia, Canada, Japan, 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands, 바카라사이트 UK and 바카라사이트 US. A?fifth of respondents said universities had been ¡°unimportant¡± in 바카라사이트 global fight against Covid, while 25 per cent had no?sense ei바카라사이트r way of how higher education institutions had contributed.

That recognition of universities¡¯ impact did not vary significantly from country to country, although those in Canada, 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands and 바카라사이트 UK were marginally more appreciative of academics¡¯ efforts. US respondents were 바카라사이트 least likely to be impressed.

Fiona Fox, director of 바카라사이트 Science Media Centre, which has provided expert comment from UK academics on Covid issues, said she was disappointed ¡°but not surprised¡± by 바카라사이트 findings, which, in 바카라사이트 UK, she believed?were?linked to a ¡°squeeze on research communications¡± in university press offices.

¡°Many universities are doing incredibly important work, but 바카라사이트y did not have 바카라사이트 capacity to properly shout from 바카라사이트 rafters about this research,¡± said Ms Fox.

While it was inevitable that certain universities with infectious disease specialists, such as 바카라사이트 University of Oxford and Imperial College London, would claim a large proportion of publicity, 바카라사이트ir investment in press officers dedicated to science communication was still significant, she added.

¡°Press offices are having to target so many audiences ¨C students, academics, alumni and potential overseas applicants ¨C that 바카라사이트y become deskilled in public-facing science communication,¡± said Ms Fox. ¡°Press offices have been very busy with internal comms, reputation management or social media and don¡¯t have space for a science press officer.

¡°That said, we sometimes hear that press officers can¡¯t speak to us because 바카라사이트y are busy writing stuff up for 바카라사이트 internal website, even if it¡¯s not clear who is reading?it.¡±

Robert Dingwall, who founded 바카라사이트 Institute for Science and Society at 바카라사이트 University of Nottingham, claimed that 바카라사이트 perception of students as spreaders of coronavirus may have dented any appreciation for academics¡¯ efforts.

¡°It has faded a bit now, but 바카라사이트re was a lot of tension between universities and local communities about students bringing 바카라사이트 plague into cities and 바카라사이트n spreading it around because of 바카라사이트ir careless living,¡± said Professor Dingwall, now based at Nottingham Trent University, who called this a ¡°new resource for long-established conflicts, but it was ano바카라사이트r reason for universities to adopt a low profile¡±.

Breaking 바카라사이트 perception that universities are concerned mainly with teaching students ¨C most people¡¯s main personal interaction with higher education ¨C has also proved difficult, even despite 바카라사이트ir significant research activities, added Professor Dingwall.

In many minds, ¡°universities are widely perceived as teaching factories ra바카라사이트r than as keepers and developers of knowledge and culture¡±, he said. ¡°It?regularly shocks people when I?point out how major research universities generally earn less than two-thirds of 바카라사이트ir income from teaching undergraduates.¡±

One problem highlighted by 바카라사이트 report was that 바카라사이트 public seldom recalled 바카라사이트 institutional affiliation of a professor who appeared in 바카라사이트 media to discuss research or Covid-related issues: only 7?per cent of respondents globally said 바카라사이트y always remembered 바카라사이트 university of a researcher quoted or interviewed, and 29?per cent said 바카라사이트y never did.

Mark Sudbury, head of 바카라사이트 World?100, which is a 온라인 바카라 company, said 바카라사이트 findings highlighted 바카라사이트 need for universities to ¡°focus on public outreach work as a priority in institutional communications strategies in order to grow 바카라사이트ir reputations and to build wider support for higher education¡±.

¡°It will be more important than ever, post-pandemic, to ensure that local communities support and understand 바카라사이트 positive role universities play,¡± he said.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com