Practice-Research Engagement for Development L. David Brown Improving HE-Society Dialogue April 2008

Practice-Research Engagement PRE: Practitioners and researchers engage to build new knowledge and innovative solutions for social problems Source: D.E. Stokes, Pasteur’s Quadrant , Washington: Brookings, 1997 Pure applied research (Edison) Low Basic Research Use-inspired basic research (Pasteur) Pure basic research (Bohr) High Basic Research High Use Concern Low Use Concern

PRE: Practitioners and researchers engage to build new knowledge and innovative solutions for social problems

Emerging Patterns and PRE Globalization of social problems Expanding concepts of university roles Interest in human and social development Accountability to many stakeholders Demand for practice-relevant research From government and business From marginalized groups Demand for continuing education

Globalization of social problems

Expanding concepts of university roles

Interest in human and social development

Accountability to many stakeholders

Demand for practice-relevant research

From government and business

From marginalized groups

Demand for continuing education

Promising Developments Innovations in substance and method “Citizenship” as substantive field Integration & implementation sciences Rise of “action research” as method University organization and programs Executive and leadership development programs University-practitioner partnerships Transnational university networks for problem-centered research, education and action

Innovations in substance and method

“Citizenship” as substantive field

Integration & implementation sciences

Rise of “action research” as method

University organization and programs

Executive and leadership development programs

University-practitioner partnerships

Transnational university networks for problem-centered research, education and action

Implications for HE Institutions Commit to broader roles in human and social development Encourage PRE on selected problems Foster emerging HSD fields and methods Create multi-constituency centers/programs for research and action on critical issues Build transnational networks for joint learning, action and voice

Commit to broader roles in human and social development

Encourage PRE on selected problems

Foster emerging HSD fields and methods

Create multi-constituency centers/programs for research and action on critical issues

Build transnational networks for joint learning, action and voice