Principles of integrating research into teaching higher education : built environment perspective

Integrating research-based knowledge with teaching has become an important area that needs prompt attention with the growing emphasis on student learning activities, quality assurance procedures, and research funding mechanisms within the U.K. higher education system. The link between research and teaching is not automatic. Thus, it needs to be formally created in higher education departments in order to achieve a productive relationship and manage research activities of university staff with teaching duties. The research study on which this paper is based aims to develop generic principles to enable transfer of research knowledge into teaching. This study differs from previous approaches in that it examines the research and teaching link as a two-way knowledge transfer process in the light of growing knowledge management viewpoints. This research uses the case study approach and has conducted five case studies that represent five disciplines. Finally, the research introduces principles of research to teaching transfer that are applicable to higher education institutions.