Higher Education Research in Scotland: Report of a Survey Undertaken by Universities Scotland Educational Development Sub-Committee

Bovill, C., Sheward, L. and Smyth, K. (2012) Higher Education Research in Scotland: Report of a Survey Undertaken by Universities Scotland Educational Development Sub-Committee. Project Report. Universities Scotland Educational Development Sub-committee, Edinburgh, UK.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to gain an insight into a range of higher educational research taking place across Scotland with a particular focus on the nature, expertise, support and dissemination of this research. For the purposes of this study, we used the term ‘research into higher education’ to refer to a range of higher educational research activity that included: research into higher education policies and practice, pedagogical research, research into learning and teaching taking place in higher education and research about transition from further education or school into higher education. The findings point to the underground nature of pedagogic research taking place in Scotland. Many researchers are based within disciplines and their pedagogic research is disseminated in a variety of settings that do not always make it easily accessible within generic higher education research discourse. Pedagogic research is also apparently undervalued, with many academic staff experiencing pressure to prioritise publishing within their main discipline over and above pedagogic research. In addition there appears to be a lack of capacity within Scottish institutions to maximise the profile of higher educational research in the forthcoming UK Research Excellence Framework (REF) exercise.

• Item Type: Research Reports or Papers (Project Report)
• Additional Information: ISBN 9780902703865
• Keywords: Pedagogic research, higher education research, educational research, research methodologies, educational development
• Status: Published
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Bovill, Dr Catherine
• Authors: Bovill, C., Sheward, L., and Smyth, K.
• Subjects: L Education > L Education (General); L Education > LB Theory and practice of education > LB2300 Higher Education
• College/School: University Services > Learning and Teaching Services Division
• Publisher: Universities Scotland Educational Development Sub-committee
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2012 Universities Scotland Educational Development Sub-committee
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced with the permission of the publisher

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