Emmitt, S (2006) Investigating the synergy between teaching and research in a teaching-led university: The case of an architectural technology undergraduate programme. Architectural Engineering and Design Management, 2(1-2), pp. 61-72. ISSN 1745-2007
Abstract
This paper seeks to investigate the theoretical and practical links between teaching and research in a teaching-led university in the UK. Focus is on the new architectural technology undergraduate programmes that, in theory at least, provide an opportunity to integrate research and teaching. The approach used was a case study, supported by a small amount of data collection from other institutions. An extensive literature review demonstrated the benefit to both students and academic staff of incorporating research into the curriculum. The data collection comprised semi-structured interviews with course leaders, managers and students, together with the monitoring of changes to an architectural technology programme over four years. The interviews were concerned with individuals' perceptions. The monitoring was concerned with the practical application of research to the curriculum. The data collection highlighted a series of issues, ranging from ineffective communication, poor resourcing and inadequate practical support for research. Research integration appeared to be wholly dependent on, and driven by, academics' personal search for synergy. Although the research reported here may, on first sight, appear a little negative, it would appear that with clearer direction from the university's senior managers, together with a re-evaluation of priorities at line-manager level, many opportunities could be realized without additional resourcing. From the issues identified, a number of areas for improvement are highlighted for future consideration.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | architectural technology; ethnography; integration; research; teaching |
| Index terms: | monitoring, case study, interview, programme, synergy, integration, undergraduate, architectural technology, manager, ethnography, literature review |
| Subjects: | organizational analysis, data collection methods, data analysis and analytics, curriculum development, qualitative and interpretive research, control systems, partnership management, practitioner, design practice, project controls |
| Topics: | Design Practice, Organizational Design, Time Control, Research Practice, Site Management, Roles and Professions, Stakeholder Management, Education |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here