Development of practical tools to realize the epistemic responsibilities of universities: a co-design study

Abstract

ABSTRACT University rankings have strongly influenced the values, practices, and policies universities adopt to be considered good universities. Thinking in terms of epistemic responsibilities (ERs) of universities provides a novel framework that could counter the traditional use of rankings and its negative effects, by accentuating other and broader responsibilities for research, teaching, and in service to society. We conducted a co-design study to develop practical tools to foster ERs. Applied co-design methodology is characterized by creativity, collaboration, and democratic knowledge formation. In an iterative co-design process with 25 participants from a range of backgrounds, we co-designed three policy tools for fostering ERs at universities: (1) organization of events and activities about the ERs to create awareness about them, (2) establishment of red teams to critically reflect on ERs and (3) setting up co-creation spaces in which stakeholders prioritize and develop university actions to foster ERs. In this study, we showed how policy for higher education can be developed using co-design methodology. Lastly, these three co-designed tools focus on realizing ERs through collaborative bottom-up processes, while also valuing the particular contexts of universities.