Member’s Blogpost: Research Policies: A Form of Art?
Research & Enterprise Policy Officer at City, University of London, Mariah Loukou has been looking out her brushes and easel…
As I write a new draft of a much-discussed research policy in my institution, I realise that policy writing is a form of art. As Eden Gallery’s Art blog indicates, ‘Art in any form is an expression or application of human creativity, skill, and imagination’. Taking Eden Gallery’s definition further, art brings people together as they collectively join to admire it. So, when a research policy is of quality, the research community, the senior leadership team, and the research support staff endorse it to be seen and practised. Research policies require fleshing out the root cause of a problem with key stakeholders and consideration of different perspectives to come together in an attempt to tackle the research issue holistically. In addition, effective research policies bring a sense of elegance. They make bureaucratic, complex structures of higher education more understandable and accessible. Also, they inspire because they introduce solutions. When a research problem is solved, the road is unblocked. Hence, researchers worry less about bureaucracy and spend more time on innovative research writing. In an era when higher education is being forced to think about how best to not only survive but thrive, togetherness, elegance, and inspiration sound like the next step to transforming research bureaucracy.
It might sound like I romanticise a practice that is of vital importance to higher education institutions. But, if the dominant perception was that research policies are a form of art, it might open doors to more meaningful policies and more eagerness from the research community to contribute to the research impact. Not for better REF and KEF results but simply because researchers have more freedom to perform their work. In addition, research policies open communication channels, translating into higher compliance rates with institutional rules, avoiding data breaches, and securing access to confidential services (e.g., ONS). In other words, this new perception can create a sense of harmonisation as research policies are streamlined and are genuinely user-friendly through increased transparency of choices and criteria. So, why continue to ‘see’ research policies as onerous burdens that add to institutional bureaucracy when they can become a form of art? We, policy writers, have the painting brushes, and we can use them in the best way possible. So, shall we paint?
Mariah Loukou is a Research & Enterprise Policy Officer at City, University of London. In recent years, she has worked on the Intellectual Property policy and guide; Conflict of Interest policy and streamlining the Spin-out companies Approval process and User form. Prior to her policy role, Mariah worked in the Governance office looking after Senate business and Student & Academic Services. She is also a PhD Candidate in Critical Military Studies and serves as the Election & Funding Officer at the British International Studies Association.
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