Special issue on the teaching–research nexus in public administration curricula

Abstract

Research and teaching are the main substantive activities of university staff members. How are both areas connected to each other? What is the role of research in teaching? How can research be used to improve the quality and impact of teaching? This is exactly what this special issue of Teaching Public Administration is about. Everybody will agree that one of the core tasks of teaching staff at the public administration departments of universities consists of conducting and publishing research, as well as teaching students about the discipline. However, research and teaching do not always seem to match. Life inside the classroom seems to be becoming increasingly detached from the research that is being undertaken by the teachers themselves. However, students could greatly benefit from a stronger connection between research and teaching. First of all, a connection between or the integration of research and teaching may help students to become research-minded and to perform actual research more adequately. Methods courses and dedicated research assignments are, of course, essential, but more inclusive integration of research into teaching may help students to gain a better feeling for which methods could or should be used when, and for how data may be interpreted. Secondly, a research orientation in teaching may help students to become more critical and reflexive. On an academic level, ‘knowledge’ should not be taken for granted, but its base, presuppositions and meaning, should be subject to debate. Students should socialize in a culture in which such debate, and their creative participation in it, is self-evident. The purpose of this special issue is to bring together contributions that deal with issues on incorporating research into teaching programs. [...]