the issue of scholarship in vet institutions delivering higher education denise stevens

The issue of scholarship in VET institutions delivering higher education

Denise Stevens

Overview

• The role of the Centre– Activities to support VET provision of higher education

• Three recent research projects:– Naming and claiming a research culture in Victorian TAFE– Towards a culture of scholarly practice in mixed-sector organisations– Scholarly engagement: building knowledge with industry and the

community in mixed sector organisations

• Potential indicators of quality scholarly practice - ? • Synthesised findings from the research – what does it tell us?

The VET Development Centre

Three recent research projects

– Naming and claiming a research culture in Victorian TAFE – commissioned by the Centre

– Towards a culture of scholarly practice in mixed-sector organisations – funded by NCVER grant

– Scholarly engagement: building knowledge with industry and the community in mixed sector organisations – commissioned by the Centre

Recent research – Naming & Claiming....

Methodology:• Literature review – Victoria, nationally &

internationally• Environmental scan of relevant websites• On-line survey with organisations• Consultation with selected practitioners • Telephone interviews with 8 Specialist Centres• Data gathering on enrolments in research units from

TAE


• The project considered a range of issues and questions:– What research activity is undertaken?– What is the purpose?– How much is done and who does it?– What is the impact?


Outcomes:• Action research or practitioner research the most

common• Undertaken by teaching & non teaching staff• Often related to course development & teaching and

learning practice• Lack of organisational culture & support• Need for PD to support staff

Recent research - Scholarly practice

Methodology:• Literature review• Three narratives and reflective commentaries• Textual analysis of the three case studies• Stakeholder forum – participants from public

& private VET, mixed sector organisations, Universities, and the policy community

Recent research – Scholarly practice

• The research questions:– what is scholarship?– what are the features of scholarly practice?– What are the indicators of quality scholarly

practice?– What practical strategies are needed to support

and build capacity for scholarly practice in mixed-sector institutions?


• The literature review:– Considered the nature of scholarship (Boyer et al)– Scholarship as a form of scholarly practice– Considered Australian, UK & North American

research

• Narratives of scholarly practice:– HE, VET & mixed-sector organisations– Consider their scholarship in teaching & learning


• Textual analysis of the narratives:– The analysis revealed similarities and differences

between the 3 settings– This analysis formed the basis for the forum

• Stakeholder forum provided an opportunity:– to validate the textual analysis– to build knowledge– to validate the project team’s analysis of the

narratives


• Provisional criteria for quality in scholarly practice: – The forum considered what indicators denote

quality in scholarly practice in each locations– Discussion framed by Glassick, Huber and

Maeroff’s (1997) standards of scholarly work with some additions/adaptations


Scholarship standards proposed by Glassick, Huber & Maeroff:• Clear goals• Adequate preparation• Appropriate methods• Significant results• Effective presentation• Reflective critique

Discussed at the forum and elaborated to include:


• Collaboration• Making knowledge public• Critical analysis & synthesis• Ethical practice• Theory-informed practice

Recent research – Scholarly practice...

• Strategies for enhancing scholarly practice and culture:– Enhancing understanding about what it means to

construct a scholarly culture– Building institutional capacity for scholarship &

scholarly culture – Building workforce expertise


• Strategies for enhancing scholarly practice and culture:– Establishing spaces for sharing scholarly work – Addressing the terms & conditions under which

scholarly work is produced– Working with industry and other external

agencies to build collaborative partnerships


• Scholarly practice across all three settings distinguished by 3 features:– A form of intellectual-practical work– The knowledge produced is influenced by the way

the work is done– The quality of scholarly practice & the knowledge

resources produced are enhanced with peer review

Recent research – Scholarship of engagement....

• This case study focussed on Boyer’s scholarship of application – later known as engagement

• Followed on from previous NCVER research activity• Three narratives and reflective commentaries were

commissioned• Investigated how scholarly engagement with industry

& the community is understood & practiced

Recent research – Scholarship of engagement....

• Some of the key questions that guided the research:– what is the nature of the scholarship of

engagement in mixed-sector organisations?– how, why and with whom do projects involving

scholarship of engagement with external partners come about?

– how are the research problems & methodologies constructed?

– what are some of the barriers & enablers?

Recent research – Scholarship of engagement.....

• The processes of building knowledge through scholarly engagement with industry and the community were shown to be collaborative, dialogic, innovative and highly democratised

• The benefits of scholarly engagement were seen to accrue to all parties


• What the research found:– Leveraging and building from a small foundation

of existing strengths was identified as a successful strategy

– Broad-based institutional support was also crucial– Capacity to draw on networks important


• Challenges uncovered:– lack of dedicated funding– ambivalent institutional support– inappropriate approaches to intellectual property– under-developed research capacity– staffing pressures– casualised workforce

And in summary from the 3 projects

• Applied research can be a ‘natural fit as it builds on long established links with industry & community

• Culture and management support an imperative• Development & encouragement of practitioner

networks is required• More PD and access to (research) funds• Development of agreed standards related to

scholarship would be helpful

And in summary.....

• Much is happening across the sector to support higher education provision in mixed-sector and/or HE organisations:– The ACPET Journal for Private Higher Education– The G5 Victorian Providers – regular forums– The NCVER early practitioner grants– VET Development Centre Research Grants– Scholarly network & PD forums

But....a systematic approach is required

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vetcentre.vic.edu.au/research-and-reports

the issue of scholarship in vet institutions delivering higher education denise stevens

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