Teach a Student to Fish? International Relations Scholars in the Classroom

Abstract

American higher-education institutions are under increasing pressure to prepare their students with practical skills for the workplace, and the social sciences-including political science-are not immune. Political figures have suggested-sometimes seconded by academics themselves-that research distracts academics from imparting practical skills to undergraduate students. Using a survey of international relations (IR) scholars, this article shows that this is not the case. Those who spend more time on research actually devote more time to policy-relevant research in their courses than more abstract and theoretical work, and they incorporate more contemporary issues. Research seems to encourage academics to teach their students to fish.

Improving political science degree programmes in the twenty-first century

“…Rathbun and Rathbun (2017) engage students in more policy-based researches in their courses. This helps students to develop the skills they would need to effect change in a practical and doable manner.…”