Abstract
The relatively new experience during the last two decades with applied research at Dutch universities of applied sciences opens up opportunities to introduce research excellence to these. A key issue here may be the institutional rationalities of professionals
operating in the communities of education, industry and research – the adaptive learning triangle. By understanding the rationalities of these professional communities, a new perspective may emerge to promote research excellence at a university of applied sciences.
Previous research on this topic is dominated by university-industry cooperation. Typically, in these institutions the underlying idea is that educational activities sustain the research process. At universities of applied sciences in the Netherlands, teaching is the predominant activity, and research seems to be a somewhat separate world. However, research is indeed conducted and a focus on research excellence may help to enhance education with state-of-the-art topics emerging from the cooperation with industry.
This chapter elaborates on institutional rationalities emerging from a case study concerning the Bachelor programme in Automotive Engineering of the School of Engineering and Automotive at HAN University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands. We focus on the playing field of the professional within the communities spanned by the adaptive learning triangle. The objective is to address the issue of enhancing research excellence in the curriculum of the Bachelor programme in Automotive Engineering, by understanding the institutional rationalities of the three professional communities involved.
Our research shows a compelling distinction in the mindset of the education and research communities in the School of Engineering and Automotive versus that of the industry community, such as in the: (a) economic field (cost coverage versus shareholder value); (b) research paradigm (knowledge dissemination versus exploiting intellectual property); and (c) time dynamics (short time to market versus a set four-year study programme).
operating in the communities of education, industry and research – the adaptive learning triangle. By understanding the rationalities of these professional communities, a new perspective may emerge to promote research excellence at a university of applied sciences.
Previous research on this topic is dominated by university-industry cooperation. Typically, in these institutions the underlying idea is that educational activities sustain the research process. At universities of applied sciences in the Netherlands, teaching is the predominant activity, and research seems to be a somewhat separate world. However, research is indeed conducted and a focus on research excellence may help to enhance education with state-of-the-art topics emerging from the cooperation with industry.
This chapter elaborates on institutional rationalities emerging from a case study concerning the Bachelor programme in Automotive Engineering of the School of Engineering and Automotive at HAN University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands. We focus on the playing field of the professional within the communities spanned by the adaptive learning triangle. The objective is to address the issue of enhancing research excellence in the curriculum of the Bachelor programme in Automotive Engineering, by understanding the institutional rationalities of the three professional communities involved.
Our research shows a compelling distinction in the mindset of the education and research communities in the School of Engineering and Automotive versus that of the industry community, such as in the: (a) economic field (cost coverage versus shareholder value); (b) research paradigm (knowledge dissemination versus exploiting intellectual property); and (c) time dynamics (short time to market versus a set four-year study programme).
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Sustaining the Future of Higher Education |
| Subtitle of host publication | Higher Education: Lin king Research, Policy and Practice |
| Editors | Bruno Broucker, Rosalind Pritchard, Göran Melin, Clare Milsom |
| Place of Publication | Leiden |
| Publisher | Brill |
| Chapter | 2 |
| Pages | 24 - 44 |
| Number of pages | 21 |
| Volume | 2 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 978-90-04-46780-4 |
| ISBN (Print) | 978-90-04-46778-1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2 Jun 2021 |
Publication series
| Name | Higher Education: Linking Research, Policy and Practice |
|---|---|
| Volume | 2 |
Keywords
- Dutch UAS research excellence
- Dutch institutional rationality
- Dutch university of applied sciences
- Adaptive learning triangle