The agenda of university knowledge transfer is problematically characterised by heterogeneity. Research and UK policy to date are critiqued as ineffective in dealing with this. If research aims to help inform policy and practice, an approach is needed that goes beyond simply acknowledging heterogeneity of agenda and stakeholders. In this chapter it is argued that commonality, difference, and intersubjectivity, inherent in and between universities and other stakeholders working in a partnership activity, are fundamental for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers to incorporate into their approaches. The phenomenographic research method, which is based on just such an assumption that variation exists, offers a valuable new “all-inclusive” framework for providing insights into innovation, hidden innovation, or potential innovation in this domain. Examples of what this might look like in practice are provided. The review is focused on the UK, but the issues and conclusions presented are expected to resonate with other national contexts.
Michels, Nicolette
Oxford Brookes Business School
Year of publication: 2020Date of RADAR deposit: 2020-10-15
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