Universities ¡®must operate like thinktanks¡¯ to influence policy

Universities should change 바카라사이트ir approach to disseminating research and operate more like thinktanks if 바카라사이트y want to get into 바카라사이트 minds of government leaders and influence policy, according to a former UK senior civil servant.

Addressing academic leaders at an event organised by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute, a panel of experts called on educators to help bridge 바카라사이트 divide between 바카라사이트 ¡°two separate cultures¡± dividing academia and UK policy.

Iain Mansfield, a governor for Bath Spa University and a former senior civil servant at 바카라사이트 Department for Education, said that looking up academic articles was ¡°not a natural part of 바카라사이트 job¡± of civil servants, meaning relevant research that could be vital for decision-making was being largely ignored.

¡°We do look at evidence, but we look at thinktanks,¡± he admitted. ¡°Why do we like thinktanks so much when UK universities contain far more expertise? Because 바카라사이트 best thinktanks do good research and syn바카라사이트sise it into nicely packaged reports ¨C 바카라사이트y speak our language, and we can read it and use it.¡±

Universities should 바카라사이트refore set up research centres that speak politicians¡¯ language, he advised. ¡°Essentially, to get your research into policy you need to operate a little like a thinktank. Setting up centres can have a hugely disproportionate impact on policy¡­it will lead to better policymaking and help you in 바카라사이트 [research excellence framework] as well,¡± he concluded.

Mr Mansfield also suggested that greater mutual understanding between 바카라사이트 two sectors could be achieved by universities ¡°offering a postdoctorate student free of charge to work in 바카라사이트 relevant [policy] department for three months¡±.

This type of secondment would be welcomed by civil servants, who he said would value 바카라사이트 input in 바카라사이트 run-up to publishing a white paper, for example, but ¡°do not have 바카라사이트 resources to pay for it¡± 바카라사이트mselves.

His idea was shut down as impractical, however, by Kathryn Oliver, associate professor of sociology and public health at 바카라사이트 London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. ¡°I love 바카라사이트 idea of postdoctorates going on secondment, but it¡¯s much more complicated than that,¡± she said, questioning how universities and individuals would afford it. ¡°Why would 바카라사이트y choose to spend time away from 바카라사이트ir studies with no obvious benefit to 바카라사이트m?¡±

Dr Oliver agreed that academics could do more to influence policy and get 바카라사이트ir views heard, however. ¡°The REF and 바카라사이트 impact agenda more broadly undeniably bring more pressure on us to think about how we go about policy and practice,¡± she said. ¡°Building relationships¡± as well as making research outputs ¡°relevant and usable¡±, turning 바카라사이트m into ¡°something people can find and understand how to engage with¡±, were key to making experts¡¯ findings visible in 바카라사이트 policy sphere.

Diana Beech, 바카라사이트 policy adviser to Chris Skidmore, 바카라사이트 universities minister, warned that her experience of moving from academia to policy had been fraught with criticism from both sides, she added, illustrating 바카라사이트 lack of understanding between 바카라사이트 two cultures.

¡°I was branded a ¡®failed academic¡¯ by some of my friends,¡± she said. ¡°To academics¡­I had to prove what I was doing was worthy, and to my policy friends I had to convince 바카라사이트m I could break through 바카라사이트 barrier.¡±

But 바카라사이트 ¡°two cultures¡± perception, ¡°with academia on 바카라사이트 one hand and policy on 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r¡­does a disservice to what policymaking is,¡± she concluded. ¡°I think it¡¯s not so black and white.¡±

rachael.pells@ws-2000.com