(Dit artikel en onderzoek zijn alleen beschikbaar in het Engels)
A case study on strategies of transformative research in the current academic system
The article explores the challenges scholars face when conducting transformative research within conventional academic structures. While universities are increasingly expected to contribute to societal change and sustainability, researchers encounter conflicting forces, including institutional pressures, rigid performance metrics, and career advancement concerns.
Transformative research aims to create societal impact but struggles within a system designed for disciplinary knowledge and conventional performance metrics. Lewin’s field theory is used to analyze the push-and-pull forces shaping researchers’ decisions in an academic environment resistant to change. The study is based on 32 interviews with scholars and policy staff to explore the real-world experiences of transformative researchers.
Researchers face identity and goal conflicts, navigating between institutional pressures and their commitment to societal impact. They adopt two main strategies:
- Transforming through research output – aligning with traditional academic expectations while integrating impact-driven research.
- Transforming through research process – embedding societal engagement into research activities, often at the cost of career progression.
The study argues that universities must rethink reward systems, funding structures, and evaluation criteria to support transformative research and maximize its potential for real-world impact.
