Comments on: Academia and public policy making http://hedebate.jiscinvolve.org/academia-and-public-policy-making/ Mon, 22 Mar 2010 07:40:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=wordpress-mu-1.2.5 By: Julia Waldman http://hedebate.jiscinvolve.org/academia-and-public-policy-making/#comment-1591 Julia Waldman Wed, 11 Feb 2009 13:25:18 +0000 http://hedebate.jiscinvolve.org/academia-and-public-policy-making/#comment-1591 The National Foundation for Educational Research welcome the focus of this paper on how government and academia can work together more effectively. There has been an important emphasis on evidence-informed policy and practice in relation to the development and delivery of education and social care services in recent years. It is appropriate that different perspectives shape policy formation and experience suggests that there are difficulties at times with aligning the priorities of the academic community and practitioners and managers, as well as parents, service uers and carers within the 'collective voice'. Disciplinary differences and histories may shape the nature of the cultural change and relationships required to deliver more effective knowledge transfer and these should be recognised. We value the emphasis in the paper that it is a joint endeavour - not simply academics and academic institutions needing to change. The National Foundation for Educational Research welcome the focus of this paper on how government and academia can work together more effectively. There has been an important emphasis on evidence-informed policy and practice in relation to the development and delivery of education and social care services in recent years. It is appropriate that different perspectives shape policy formation and experience suggests that there are difficulties at times with aligning the priorities of the academic community and practitioners and managers, as well as parents, service uers and carers within the ‘collective voice’. Disciplinary differences and histories may shape the nature of the cultural change and relationships required to deliver more effective knowledge transfer and these should be recognised. We value the emphasis in the paper that it is a joint endeavour - not simply academics and academic institutions needing to change.

]]> By: Chris Marsden http://hedebate.jiscinvolve.org/academia-and-public-policy-making/#comment-702 Chris Marsden Thu, 13 Nov 2008 17:10:44 +0000 http://hedebate.jiscinvolve.org/academia-and-public-policy-making/#comment-702 Your recommendations, which seem very sound in general, must be brought in line with the RAE 2014 (or whatever term is applied). In particular: "Core recommendation to Academia: Recognise and reward engagement with Government through academic career development, in particular: (i) By rewarding quality in non-research and non-publishable engagements between academia and Government through career progression in the same ways that traditional academic research excellence is rewarded." This appears a hugely ambitious goal but is absolutely vital to ensuring serious engagement by mid-career academics - otherwise you are left with those so secure in post that they can somewhat 'sacrifice' their RAE contribution to the demands of relevant policy debate. Your recommendations, which seem very sound in general, must be brought in line with the RAE 2014 (or whatever term is applied).

In particular:
“Core recommendation to Academia: Recognise and reward engagement with
Government through academic career development, in particular:
(i) By rewarding quality in non-research and non-publishable engagements
between academia and Government through career progression in the same
ways that traditional academic research excellence is rewarded.”

This appears a hugely ambitious goal but is absolutely vital to ensuring serious engagement by mid-career academics - otherwise you are left with those so secure in post that they can somewhat ’sacrifice’ their RAE contribution to the demands of relevant policy debate.

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