Linking research and teaching in Wales: work of the
Higher Education Academy Action Set
Simon K. Haslett
Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching
University of Wales, Newport
Email: [email protected]
Many argue that it is research that distinguishes Higher Education from other education sectors. Curricula should be overflowing with cutting-edge material derived from the lecturers own research, and learning should take place within a culture of inquiry and
problem solving. Yet this is often far from the case at many Higher Education institutions (HEIs), where teaching and research active staff are often dichotomised, reducing interaction between the two and arguably affecting the student experience.
Not so long ago, the UK government discussed, and subsequently abandoned, establishing research and teaching only HEIs. Many academics would agree with the benefits of linking research and teaching, but what is available to support the lecturer? The
Higher Education Academy (HEA) has championed what is often referred to as the research-teaching nexus through a number of publications and the funding of advisors to talk to groups of academics in workshops, seminars and keynote lectures.
In Wales, the HEA Welsh Institutional Group established an All
Wales Research-Teaching Nexus Action Set early in 2009 to
collate and disseminate practice.
At the first meeting of the Action Set in February of the same
year, it was decided that an All Wales workshop would be held
later in the year to explore strengthening and developing the
nexus.
The workshop took place at the University of Wales’s Gregynog
Hall, near Newtown, Powys, on 1-2 September (right). It was
facilitated by Professors Jenkins and Healey and attended by
around 25 colleagues from most Welsh HEIs. The workshop was a
success and a number of actions and recommendations came
from it:
1.
2.
3.
4.
The creation of an Action Set Blog [http://nexuswales.blogspot.com] to collect reactions and resources arising
from the workshop.
The publication of Welsh research-teaching nexus case studies.
To organise a series of discipline-focused research-teaching
nexus workshops throughout Wales in association with
appropriate HEA Subject Centres.
To convene a second All Wales workshop in 2010.
Point 4 is seen as the most important because all Welsh HEIs have been asked by the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW) to provide the next generation of
Learning and Teaching Strategies in 2011. The workshop highlighted that currently, few Learning and Teaching and Research strategies make links to one another. Therefore,
the Action Set has considerable potential to strongly influence the strategic direction of Welsh HEIs and forge closer links between research and teaching. There is already
evidence of this happening in some HEIs across Wales.
The All Wales Research-Teaching Nexus Action Set is also involved in advising the organisation of a new biennial Welsh Higher Education Learning and Teaching Conference.
The Action Set is backing the publication of proceedings arising from the conference, and is also encouraging colleagues from Wales to participate in other conferences, such
as the Annual Conference of the International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (ISSoTL) in Liverpool in October 2010 and, for the second year running,
the Society for Research into Higher Education (SRHE) is holding its Annual Conference in Wales, at the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport.
This poster was produced by Jonathan Wallen at the Centre for Excellence in
Learning and Teaching at the University of Wales, Newport, for the pre-ISSoTL
international seminar in Liverpool, 19th October 2010.
The volume ‘Linking research and teaching in Wales’ is a direct result of the Action Set and
comprises 29 case studies demonstrating the innovations presently practiced in Wales to
strengthen the links between research and teaching. There is at least one case study
included in this book from each HEI in Wales, and the case studies are arranged so to
highlight the areas where research-teaching links are being made. The studies mainly focus
on how undergraduate students experience and undertake research as part of their studies,
but there are also many examples of research-informed teaching. It is hoped that this
collection of case studies will stimulate further innovation in Welsh Higher Education and
beyond, helping students on the journey and promoting excellence in learning and teaching.
Links for further information:
Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching
http://celt.newport.ac.uk
HEA Research-Teaching Nexus Action Set
http://nexus-wales.blogspot.com
Linking Research and Teaching in Wales (publication)
http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/assets/York/documents/ourwork/nations/
wales/WalesRandTNexusENGLISH_Jun10.pdf