Novel forms of research governance and their possible impact on the future of educational research

Abstract

This article sets out to contribute to the current debate on the transformation of educational research with regard to global transitions and challenges. Nation-centred hierarchical organizations in Europe have increasingly failed to address emergent processes. And in contrast novel forms of governance have gained prevalence in controlling uncertainty and contingency in the transforming European Educational Research Space. The paper addresses one particular dimension of current educational research -that of the mechanisms by which transnational research operates within the European Educational Research space. Within this framework special attention is given to the issue of the governance, as a specific process shaping research cultures in the past, present and future, and to the role of European research associations as a system of evolving networks of 'knowledge spaces'. The article problematizes assumptions about the potential of European research associations to construct vocabularies, perspectives and applications in an attempt to open up dialogues, discipline narrativity and create a new sovereign actor. The paper concludes with proposals for possible future visions based on the outcomes of the analysis of the nature of the current educational research governance.

20 Años sobre el Impacto de la Investigación Educativa en la Práctica. Algunas Recomendaciones y Propuestas de Mejora

“…Respecto a los actores, en el Espacio Europeo de Investigación Educativa, es preciso reivindicar el papel de las asociaciones en la creación de un actor soberano en relación con el desarrollo de las políticas educativas respecto a la investigación (Pataki, 2015). Así, actividades de las asociaciones como la EERA y las experiencias de los investigadores emergentes adquieren un papel protagonista con un potencial claro de contribución a los retos planteados, abogando por una pan-europea comunidad de investigación (Halet y Fidalgo, 2014).…”

Tackling the multi-actor and multi-level complexity of European governance of knowledge: Transnational actors in focus

“…In this context, it is thus relevant and urgent to study transnational actors as particular organizational and networked forms emerging and thriving in the European arena (Ball and Junemann, 2012; Kjaer, 2010; Pataki, 2015). To do this, it is necessary to analyse such actors in a way that allows for highlighting the differences and commonalities in their structures, identities, and roles, as well as the links in which they are embedded, and the influence they can exert on decisions related to knowledge policies.…”

“…This leads to the characterization of the European governance of knowledge as an evolving, dynamic space where not only constraints but also opportunities abound. In this respect, this special issue contributes significantly to the scholarly debate on new organizational forms, new governance actors, and arrangements concerning education policy in Europe (Ball, 2009; Pataki, 2015).…”