Abstract
The “unity of research and teaching” is an ingrained principle in university policy in Denmark, but this principle has also been subjected to increasing criticism. This article presents an investigation, consisting of about 50 interviews with teachers from higher educational institutions in Denmark, aiming at the illumination of this issue. According to the conclusions of this investigation it is the basic experience of the teachers that an important interplay exists between research and teaching of the individual teacher, and that almost none would prefer to work in a pure research institution. At the same time the teachers have some crucial reservations. Firstly it can be difficult to administer this twofold task. Secondly the interrelationships are dependent on several factors, the most important of which is the level of teaching and the disciplinary context. This latter factor is explained by differences pertaining to the very nature of varying disciplines - demonstrated and analyzed with reference to Thomas Kuhn and Basil Bernstein. Finally, the importance of the interrelationships between research and teaching for higher educational and research policies in broader perspective is discussed.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bernstein, Basil (1975). Class, Codes and Control. Vol. III. London.
Binder, Gisbert & Hewel, Petra (1981). Die Verbindung von Forschung und Lehre an deutschen Universitäten (Berichte aus dem Forschungsinstitut für Soziologie der Universität zu Köln). Köln.
Blume, Stuart (1974). “New Teaching Research Relationships in Mass Post-Secondary Education”, Structure of Studies and Place of Research in Mass Higher Education. (OECD) Paris.
Foss Hansen, Hanne (1985). “P»virkningsmekanismer i forskningssystemet. En undersøgelse af fem forskningsinstitutter”. In Naerbilleder af forskning. Organisationssociologiske studier, pp. 107–158. København.
Friedrich, Robert J. & Stanley J. Michalak (1983). “Why Doesn't Research Improve Teaching?” Journal of Higher Education 2: 145–163.
Jacobsen, Bo (1981). De højere uddannelser mellem teknologi og humanisme. København.
Kuhn, Thomas (1970). The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, Chicago. London.
Kyvik, Svein (1983). Arbeidsopgaver og arbejdstid (Delrapport nr. 1 fra Forskning ved universiteterne). lOslo.
Kyvik, Svein (1984). Hovedfagsoppgavernes plan og funktion i forskningsprocessesn ved universiteterne (Delrapport nr. 4 fra Forskning ved universiteterne, NAVF's forskningsinstitut. Oslo.
Lane, Jan Erik (1985). “Academic Profession in Academic Organization”, Higher Education 14: 24–68.
Lodahl, Janice & Gerald Gordon (1972). “The Structure of Scientific Fields and the Functioning of University Graduate Departments”, American Sociological Review 1: 57–72.
Maier-Leibnitz, Heinz (1984). Professoren über die Lage der Forschung an den Universitäten (Institut für Demoskopie). Allensbach. (Unpublished paper).
OECD (1981). The Future of University Research. Paris.
Sloman, A. E. (1985). “The Universities of the United Kingdom”, Commonwealth Universities Yearbook, pp. 223–232. London.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jensen, JJ. Research and teaching in the universities of Denmark: Does such an interplay really exist?. High Educ 17, 17–26 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00130897
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00130897