During the last twenty years researchers and policymakers have focused their discourses on the important role that universities play in stimulating the development of regions under the umbrella concept of “knowledge economies” [i]. Universities contribute to the region generating research and consultancy income, embedding knowledge in students and employees, upgrading regional business environments and potentially […]
What does allocation of cabinet portfolios tells about the priorities of the government (and society)? An opportunity to reflect on the need for a science minister is provided by a new Australian government, where such portfolio does not exist. This week a new Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott and his cabinet were sworn in […]
Published on by ECPR Standing Group | Comments Off on Comments please: How can social sciences and humanities be better integrated in research on ‘Societal Challenges’?
In an earlier post, Thomas Koenig wrote about the upcoming Lithuanian EU Presidency conference ‘Horizons for Social Sciences and Humanities’, which reacts to the so-called ‘integrative approach’ the European Commission proposed in the preparation of the ‘Horizon 2020’ research funding programme; more precisely the third pillar known as the ‘societal challenges’. Seven such challenges have […]
Next week, September 23-24, the Lithuanian EU Presidency will host a conference on “Horizons on Social Sciences and Humanities” in Vilnius. While it is not the first gathering to discuss the role of Social Sciences and Humanities in Europe, this conference is certainly unique, for it combines several features. For the first time, a consultation […]
An enduring tension in systemic integration in public sector governance has featured the relations between state and its agencies and organizations devoted to specific tasks. Thus periods of greater leeway to sub-systemic organizational autonomy have intertwined with periods of contraction and stronger central control, and vice versa. A recent example is the wave of so-called […]
Published on by ECPR Standing Group | Comments Off on Competing for foreign talent in a globalised world: is Europe losing out?
Labour market shortages in high-skilled sectors, demographic changes and the constant pressure to innovate have prompted governments around the world to engage in a global competition for talent. Against this context, the regional dimension has become increasingly important as governments seek to activate all policy instruments in the race for the ‘best and brightest’. This […]
Networks became a frame for thinking and living in our liquid order [1]. This frame has been a shift in gaze from formal organizational entities to the network of actors engaged with one another in various ways[2]. This is the core principle of network theory and analysis. This network turn challenges our notions of society, […]
Published on by ECPR Standing Group | Comments Off on Whither will the Europe of Knowledge amidst the Crisis?
At the end of the second millennium, the European Union (EU) boldly proclaimed that within a decade it aimed to become the ‘most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world’. This ambition and its renewal through the Europe 2020 Strategy have seemingly been forgotten and, indeed, neglected amidst the Crisis. To what extent has […]
Published on by ECPR Standing Group | Comments Off on Q&A with Tamson Pietsch: How are Empires of Scholars built?
A key concept within the Europe of Knowledge is the ‘fifth freedom’ – free movement of knowledge. In this Q&A, we ask Tamson Pietsch, a historian, to tell us about how scholarly networks are built in the British academic world. Q1: What is Empire of Scholars about? At the start of the twenty-first century we […]
Published on by Europe of Knowledge | Comments Off on Why informal grass-root collaboration matters for European research?
For the last 30 years European research landscape has been significantly shaped by the EU Framework Programme. At the same time, informal collaboration among researchers outside externally funded projects remains important for creativity and vitality of European research. Increased role of projects: opportunities and threats Since the early professionalisation of the scientific community in the […]
UACES and Ideas on Europe do not take responsibility for opinions expressed in articles on blogs hosted on Ideas on Europe. All opinions are those of the contributing authors.
