In a conversation with Mehr reporter, Mohammad Hassanzadeh said about the role of universities in solving social problems and turning research into practice: In recent years, one of the most repeated criticisms of universities is why, despite the large volume of research and theses, social and economic problems still persist. To answer this question, we must first know the real position of universities in the knowledge chain and their role in solving society’s problems.
He described universities as centers for the production of science and capable human resources and continued: If we compare a university to a factory, its product is knowledge, technology and specialized human resources. Just as a food factory is not responsible for feeding people and only produces “product”, universities are not responsible for conducting research and directly implementing solutions.
The head of Irandak research institute emphasized: University builds, produces and empowers human resources; But implementing the findings is the duty of executive institutions, governance system, industry, private sector and society.
This specialist in information science and epistemology stated that a lot of research has been done in universities on various issues of the country; He said: The reality is that extensive research has been done in universities for almost all urban, social, economic, environmental and cultural issues of the country. Detailed theses and treatises have been written, practical models and solutions have been presented, and even empirical evidence and applicable analyzes have been prepared.
He pointed out: universities do not lack solutions; Rather, there is a lack of “translation of solutions into action”. The solutions do not reach the action stage and are not implemented. Thousands of scientific solutions for air pollution, traffic, water, urban management, knowledge-based economy, health, energy, etc. But they are not used.
Why are research findings not translated into “practice”?
A faculty member of Tarbiat Modares University stated that we need a proper mechanism to translate knowledge into executive actions and said: In Iran, a vital link in the knowledge chain is missing. We don’t have an institution or a mechanism that takes research out of universities and turns it into an understandable, applicable and decision-able language. There is no institution that delivers research findings to industry, government and society.
He explained about the existence of this vital link in many countries: In many countries, this missing link is filled by institutions such as technology transfer offices, knowledge brokerage centers, university-government interfaces, science policy analysts, technology consultants and policy laboratories. But in Iran, research usually remains in libraries and does not reach policy makers, or is not translated into the language of implementation, or there is no financial and institutional model for its implementation.
The need for a multi-sector ecosystem to use research
Hassanzadeh stated that a multi-sector ecosystem is needed for research to become operational, adding: the government should design structures to attract research and technologies. Ministries, municipalities and executive bodies should act in a problem-oriented and order-oriented manner. The private sector must also have the motivation and ability to absorb technology. In addition, the media and society should trust scientific solutions and participate in their implementation process. Also, like a translator and intermediary, knowledge brokering should convert science into decision-making and then implementation.
Universities are responsible for the production of science, not its direct implementation
In the end, the head of Irandak research institute stated: Universities play their role in producing knowledge and training expert human resources well; But in order for these achievements to effectively play a role in solving society’s problems, there is a need for agency institutions to transfer this knowledge to practice. If the missing links in the chain of knowledge are completed, we can hope that university researches will be implemented and the country’s problems will be solved effectively.
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