the institute for advanced studies

the institute for advanced studiesias

“… ideas for a better world”

“To generate and disseminate innovative interdisciplinary responses to challenges facing Scotland and the UK within the next 20 years”

www.instituteforadvancedstudies.org.uk

addressing strategic issues of relevance to Scotland, and more widely

a physical space for unconstrained interdisciplinary thinking

working with the public, policy-makers, practitioners and end-users

marshalling existing knowledge and deploying research experience in fresh ways

the institute for advanced studies

From autumn 2010

a strategic partnership of Scottish universities and organisations who value knowledge exchange

initial university partners: Dundee, Edinburgh, St Andrews, Stirling and Strathclyde

with a new name to be announced shortly

located …

initially in purpose designed premises at the University of Strathclyde, then

either a permanent site

or moving every 3-5 years between universities or other sites (decided by Governing Board – possible refurbishment of accommodation as part of regeneration within a university

the institute for advanced studies

occupying a clear niche in the knowledge exchange landscape, between Think Tanks (which lack knowledge resources) and typically mono-discipline research institutes

encouraging programmes with clear policy and practice implications, particularly for Scotland

programme format stimulates in-depth knowledge exchange and development over a period of time: e.g. three 2-4 day sessions with group contact in between

a typical programme includes some or all of: presentations and discussion workshops electronic-broadcast debates public lectures

Operation

Think Tanks (University) Research Institutesias

the institute for advanced studies

Current programmes Brain imaging and its impact on society Cybercrime: a threat to all Future of news industries Pluralism in crisis

Women, punishment and community sanctions

the institute for advanced studies

Programmes selected by committee whose members are nominated by Governing Board

Current call for proposals : see www.instituteforadvancedstudies.org.uk

Programmes should be led by multi-sector teams which must include academics from partner universities. All university staff may register interest in participating in programmes

Impact will be achieved through a linked chain of inputs, outputs and outcomes including International and multi-sector participants Programme reports and other publications, public engagement, new

collaborations Policy and practice informed by programmes, confidence in and profile for

Scotland’s capacity for collaboration and innovation

Programme selection, participation and impact

the institute for advanced studies

Benefits for Scottish universities

promoting cross-discipline engagement, enhancing the collective capacity of Scottish universities

raising the profile of Scottish research internationally

dissemination of thinking via a range of routes, including those relevant for REF

promoting new collaborations, and therefore new research and KE income

a new mechanism for public engagement

early outputs encouraging, but timeline for some desired impacts will be longer than 6 months

universities will “take out what they put in”: funding activity of their own staff, working with and stimulated by members of other institutions and sectors

the institute for advanced studies

Benefits for Government and for Scotland more widely

responding to drive for effective policy-making

recognising the range and types of evidence that need to be brought together

supporting co-production of policy

ability to address issues identified by third sector or business, and building teams around these

extracting added value from research already funded by the taxpayer

a mechanism for civic engagement

the institute for advanced studies

Governance Structure

Professionalservices

ProgrammeCommittee

Manager

Director

Advisory Board

ProgrammeProposers

and Organisers

Programme delivery team

Governing Board

independent/rotating Chairnominees of partner HEIsrepresentatives of public sector, business and

third sector interests

advisors of international standingbusiness leaders & industrialists

Event assistant

ManagementTeam

the institute for advanced studies

What the Institute is hosting and facilitating

international interdisciplinary enquiry by multi-institutional teams

addressing clear questions, marshalling and reconfiguring existing knowledge

a physical place to meet and work

holding sustained programmes over periods up to several months

engaging practitioners with researchers

networking to policy bodies and linkages to government

growing into a national initiative with critical mass and draw

What the Institute isn’t a place for pursuing independent

individual research (e.g. a “research hotel”)

limited to a narrow range of disciplines or themes

a virtual network

a single event or workshop

exclusively for academic research

a venue for conferences