Hogescholen starten in 2022 met een eigen doctoraatstraject: het Professional Doctorate. Daarmee introduceert het hbo een nieuwe beroepsopleiding waarmee het de grenzen in de beroepspraktijk wil verleggen. Kandidaten worden opgeleid tot hooggekwalificeerde professionals die leren te interveniëren in complexe vraagstukken zoals de energietransitie of de gezondheidszorg. Belangrijke en noodzakelijke toevoeging Hogescholen zien een doctoraatstraject in het hbo als een belangrijke en noodzakelijke toevoeging binnen het hoger onderwijs stelsel. Het Professional Doctorate (PD) maakt een doorlopende leerlijn van bachelor via master tot doctorate in de beroepskolom mogelijk, en wordt nauw verbonden met het overige hbo-onderwijs. Doel is dat hbo bachelor- en masterstudenten in hun onderwijs de vruchten plukken van het onderzoek van PD-kandidaten naar de laatste ontwikkelingen in de beroepspraktijk. Daarmee is de introductie van het professional doctorate ook een investering in de bredere aansluiting van het hbo op de arbeidsmarkt.
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Research conducted by Universities of Applied Sciences (UASs) is frequently driven by professional practice where researchers are challenged with finding solutions to real-life problems. These real-life solutions are significantly enhanced by the participation of stakeholders. Through this inclusion and the resulting interactions, activities, and knowledge transfer, between the stakeholder and research(ers), impacts occur at a micro level. Micro impacts are the normal impacts that occur during the research process through interactions between researchers and stakeholders, that facilitate an unexpected and unplanned effect, be it positive or negative (Lykke et al. 2023, Mapping Research Activities and Societal Impact by Taxonomy of Indicators: Uniformity and Diversity across Academic Fields, Journal of Documentation, 79: 1049–70). Contribution analysis has been recognized as a viable method for evaluating micro impacts. One recognized contribution analysis framework is Kok and Schuit’s (2012, Contribution Mapping: A Method for Mapping the Contribution of Research to Enhance Its Impact, Health Research Policy and Systems, 10: 21) Contribution Mapping. It is also one of the frameworks acknowledged as conforming to several of the recommendations for evaluating UAS research impact. However, to do justice to the nature of Practice Oriented research, a new framework is needed. The purpose of this article is to test how Contribution Mapping works in real-life to answer the question: What can we learn from Contribution Mapping as an impact evaluation tool for a future UAS specific research impact evaluation framework? This article will examine the specificity of UAS research, the relevance of Contribution Mapping for evaluating UAS research, and the theoretical and practical implications of Contribution Mapping. Through inductive analysis conducted on information gleaned from interviews and focus groups, observations, challenges, and limitations are identified, and modifications suggested to take into consideration for a new framework.
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The knowledge base for Social Work is strengthening. Underpinning of Social Work deriving from scientific research is necessary given the growing complexity of the work and its context. How this research should be conducted and to what type of outcomes it must lead, is part of an ongoing debate. In the Netherlands, practice-based research at Universities of Applied Sciences (UAS) is a relative new approach. Social Work research groups at UAS assert to conduct practice-based research in order to contribute to knowledge and support the objectives of Social Work. The current study was carried out to obtain insight into the characteristics of this research approach. A sample of publications was analysed in terms of knowledge purpose, methodology, and level and type of participation. Results show a strong focus on producing descriptive knowledge and to a lesser extent on control knowledge, using primarily qualitative research methods, and with limited direct participation by stakeholders. In order to practice more what they preach the research can strengthen by doing more empirical research, by diversifying the research in terms of design and methods and increasing the level of participation of stakeholders
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