1. Reflections on the Current Landscape Glen A. Jones April 24, 2014

2. The Key Question for the Day: How can we strengthen Ontario’s higher education policy research community?

3. Why is This Important? Support the development of evidence- based policy Contribute to informed public debate of policy issues Strengthen our capacity for HE policy research in Ontario Support and develop the next generation (researchers, policy advisors, advocates)

4. What are the problems? 1.Fragmentation and dispersion of higher education researchers 2.Limited interface between researchers and those who influence or make policy 3.Challenges of knowledge dissemination

5. Researchers: Academic HE is an interdisciplinary field of study Small core of researchers who view HE research as their academic field Other academics move in and out of the field HE research is increasingly international in scope

6. Researchers: Federal/National AUCC ACCC CASA CAUT CBIE CFI CFS CIHR CMEC Consultants ESDC FATDC Foundations Media NSERC Poly Can SSHRC StatsCan

7. Researchers: Ontario System MTCU MOF HEQCO PEQAB ONCAT COU CO CSA OCUFA OPSEU OFS-O OUSA Media Consultants Foundations

8. Researchers: Institution Institutional Researchers/Planners Centers for Teaching and Learning Centers for Educational Technology Student Development/Affairs/Services

9. Fragmentation of Researchers Very small academic core (problem of critical mass) Fluid participation of some academics, consultants, foundations Different professional and disciplinary identities

10. Limited Research-Policy Interface What are the issues that are of interest to government? What are the issues that are of interest to researchers? How to facilitate communication? Support promising projects? Identify expertise? Stimulate and support more research?

11. Knowledge Dissemination Most HE policy research is not published For academic researchers, how to move beyond peer-reviewed journals? How to share the findings of institutional reports, policy briefs, conference presentations?

12. So … How can we strengthen Ontario’s policy research community? How can we work together to move forward?